In late June, a grim discovery unfolded in the sweltering heat of western Colorado. Humane Colorado, along with several partnering organizations, rescued nearly 100 cats from what the group described as deplorable and life-threatening neglect.
The operation was part of a large-scale response to a disturbing animal hoarding case involving more than 250 animals. Field agents and staff encountered intense heat, cramped wire enclosures, and thick webs crawling with black widow spiders.
According to KDVR, the enclosures were so filthy and compact that the cats had no room to escape the stifling 95-degree weather. Some were sick. Others were unsocialized. Many were mothers trying to keep their kittens alive under extreme stress.
Nearly 100 cats were rescued from extreme neglect in western Colorado.
Rescue Teams Face Dangerous Conditions
The cats—mostly Bengal and Siamese mixes—were removed from what Humane Colorado called “chicken-coop style” cages layered in filth and crawling with spiders. “This wasn’t mere neglect—it was a disturbing scene marked by fear, filth, and prolonged suffering,” a spokesperson told KRDO.
Rescuers from Humane Colorado, the Bureau of Animal Protection, National Mill Dog Rescue, and Teller County Regional Animal Shelter worked through searing temperatures to remove the animals from the property. The dogs—165 in all—were transferred to a separate facility. The cats were taken to the Leslie A. Malone Center in Denver, where their long road to recovery began.
Medical Needs Overwhelm Shelters
Shelter staff were met with a daunting reality: most of the cats needed urgent and ongoing care. Humane Colorado has been treating cases of ringworm, upper respiratory infections, eye conditions, and other communicable diseases. Some of the cats had gone blind or developed serious infections. Nursing mothers and their kittens added layers of complexity to the rescue effort.
As KKTV reports, the average cost to care for just one of the rescued cats is already over $800, a figure that could climb with continued treatment and rehabilitation.
“Animals rescued from cases such as this often have complex medical needs and behavioral challenges,” said Katie Parker, Humane Colorado’s chief operating officer.
The cats lived in chicken-coop style cages infested with black widow spiders.
Emotional Toll and Behavioral Challenges
Beyond their physical ailments, the cats also face emotional recovery. Many are traumatized, under-socialized, and afraid of human contact. Behavioral specialists at Humane Colorado are working to rebuild trust in the cats—an effort that takes time, patience, and resources.
“These cats were found in unimaginable conditions,” Mary Sarah Fairweather, Vice President of Sheltering at Humane Colorado, told 9News. “Many were terrified, in poor health, unsocialized, or caring for their kittens in dangerous heat.”
While many of the cats are now safe, the shelter is still in crisis mode. Staff members are stretched thin, and resources are being used at an unsustainable pace. “The costs are overwhelming, and the journey to recovery will be long,” Fairweather added.
Temperatures reached 95 degrees during the rescue operation.
Call for Emergency Donations
Humane Colorado has been relying on public donations to help cover the cost of food, shelter, medical supplies, and behavioral support. As the shelter team works to restore these cats to health and safety, the organization is also asking the community to remain vigilant. Though the details of the neglect case have not been released due to an ongoing criminal investigation, the scale and severity of this incident highlight the importance of early intervention.
Katie Parker told KKTV, “We are asking the community to please step up and help us continue to do lifesaving work like this… these cats desperately need us.”
The animals are now in trusted hands. But their survival depends on what happens next.
