After receiving over 130 cats that were recovered from an apartment in Federal Way, the Tacoma Humane Society is looking for extra hands to help control the clowder of cats.

On Oct. 2, Federal Way animal control brought over the cats after finding them in a vacated apartment, according to the Lauren Green, THS director of marketing and communications. Green said the two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at the Mariposa Apartments, 28120 18th Ave. S., had over 130 cats inside and was covered in feces and debris. The cats did not have access to food or water.

Green said the first group of cats was brought over on Oct. 2, and they did not receive the last group until Oct. 17, when animal control safely captured the rest. Green said she doesn’t know the back story or how so many cats came to be in one apartment, but it’s a stark reminder of the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

“I mean, even in such a small space, it can really get out of control,” Green said. “So that’s why one of the services that we provide as a shelter is vouchers for low-cost spay-neuter surgeries or wellness care through our local veterinary clinics for the folks that really need access to that specialized care.”

Green said her initial reaction to seeing so many cats was gratitude because they could handle taking in such a large volume of cats, and the community stepped up and donated to increase resources to take care of the cats.

However, Green said that another great help is the people who opened their hearts and homes to foster some of these cats. She said that around 75 cats from this Federal Way apartment have been fostered so far. Green said the cats range in age from a few days old to around seven years old. They were all in good health when they arrived, and all are friendly, she said.

Each cat from the Federal Way apartment received an intake exam, initial vaccines and veterinary care, she said. The shelter supplies the veterinary care and all of the supplies, including food, litter and equipment needed to be a foster parent. Next, the cats need to be spayed or neutered and then are put up for adoption.

Green said fostering and donating are great ways to help, but if people can’t do that, she wants community members to know a grand way to help is by holding on to a lost dog or cat. Lost pets don’t usually go very far from their homes, she said, and they are usually found within a mile of their homes.

“Ultimately, the goal with that would be that the animal wouldn’t have to even step paw in the shelter, and we could help you reunite that pet with their owner through the resources we provide,” Green said.

How to help

Anyone who is interested in being a foster parent to a cat or any other animal can apply at www.thehumanesociety.org/get-involved/foster. The shelter provides the foster parents with everything they need, including food and supplies. Foster parents only need to provide a safe space and some extra tender loving care to an animal in need, according to the Tacoma Humane Society.

Watch a video of the cats in the apartment:

Screenshot of a kitten inside the apartment from the Federal Way Animal Control body cam footage. Courtesy photo