When love for animals becomes pathological
47 cats lived on 50 sqm
Two years ago four young kittens moved into an apartment in Vienna. The four were not neutered. That's how the disaster took its course. A cat couple has two to four kittens a year. With each litter, an average of four little kittens see the light of day. A single cat couple can multiply in such a way, within only six years, on far over 70,000 cats. After two years, the cat owner from Vienna was already living with 47 animals in a small 50 square meter apartment in the middle of the city.
The cats multiplied uncontrollably
That's when things got cramped. So that the cats had enough space, the cat owner slept in the bathtub in winter and on the balcony in summer. But despite his efforts, the animals lacked hygiene and veterinary care. The cats were infected with giardia, which causes severe diarrhea in the animals. The single pensioner is himself deaf and also has no sense of smell and taste since birth. Thus, he could not perceive the odor development himself. He was overwhelmed with the situation. The cats, however, had to live in a very confined space and without free run.
The mobile intervention team of the Volkshilfe project "A G'spia für's Tier" had become aware of the case and asked Gut Aiderbichl for help. The animal rescuers acted immediately and drove to Vienna. The man's love for cats was great, in this case unfortunately too great. The man suffers from a mental illness known as "animal hoarding". Here people keep animals in a very large number. Despite their great love for animals, they can no longer adequately care for them. There is a lack of water, food, hygiene and medical care. The bad thing is that the animal owners themselves do not realize that the animals in their care are in a bad condition.
Difficult start to the new cat life
When the animal rescuers from Gut Aiderbichl arrive in Vienna, they are eyed suspiciously by the cats. Apart from their owner, they had never seen other people and are therefore very shy and frightened. Closely cuddled together, they hid behind cupboards or under the bed. Only with a lot of patience and empathy, the animal rescuers managed to lure the fearful cats out of their hiding places.
Some of the cats are very skinny and in need of help. In addition, the animals are infected with giardia, and need medical care.
For the veterinary care of the cats in Vienna, Gut Aiderbichl had support in advance from the association "Haus der Katzenfreunde", whose employees had already paid for and carried out the parasite prophylaxis, castration and chipping of the cats.
The animal rescuers from Gut Aiderbichl have brought the cats to Gut Aiderbichl Maria Schmolln. The animals are extremely shy and highly traumatized. For this reason, the initial care and examination was very difficult. It is therefore not yet possible to assess whether further illnesses are present. The experts are now working particularly sensitively on examining the animals, treating wounds if necessary and catching up on necessary vaccinations.
Please help us care for the animals with your donation!
