Police say a couple was found dead in a Yorktown home that contained more than 125 cats.
Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble says his officers went to a home at 149 Cordial Road on Monday night for a welfare check.
The door was locked, but officers were able to see through the windows that the house was inundated with cats. "Our officers were able to put hazmat suits on to make entry into the house and subsequently located two bodies in a back bedroom," Noble says.
Noble says they found a man and woman in their 50s dead in the bedroom. At this point, he says foul play does not appear to be involved in their deaths. Their names have not yet been released.
Investigators estimate there were approximately 125 cats inside the home. News 12 was told that authorities couldn't investigate the scene at first because cats were everywhere.
It took humane enforcement officers several hours to remove 90 of the cats, with various rescue organizations taking as many as they could. SPCA Westchester took in 67 but is now down to 30 after more organizations stepped in to help. "They were well-cared for, and I can tell you they were well-loved because they love people."
About 50 still remain at the house. Officers are feeding and caring for them until they can be removed, possibly by Friday.
Some of the cats need veterinary care, so the shelters are asking for monetary donations and more. In addition to donations, they're also asking for anyone who might be able to foster a cat or maybe even several.
Anyone interested in helping with the cats, please click
here.