Bensalem cat shelter scandal: dozens of sick felines rescued

🐱 SPCA rescued 67 cats from filthy Bensalem shelter after complaint

🐱 Cats were sick, underfed, and living in cages covered in waste

🐱 Shelter owner charged with animal cruelty, says she “feels horrible”

BENSALEM, Pa. — 67 cats were removed from the squallor of a cat shelter that says it is dedicated to offering refuge to unwanted, stray and abandoned cats.

Volunteers and employees from the Bucks County SPCA rescued the felines from a warehouse being used by the nonprofit Cats Bridge to Rescue in Bensalem after finding them in "awful" conditions and in poor health. The SPCA told Fox 29 the action was in response to a complaint from a Bensalem animal control officer.

Many of the cats were confined to filthy cages while others were wandering around. A large room was found filled with animal waste had a strong smell of urine.

A significant number the cats were very thin with upper respiratory infections, severe diarrhea, and covered in fleas and ear mites. One cat tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. Two extremely sick kittens died from highly contagious panleukopenia.

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Shelter owner charged with animal cruelty

The cats were taken to the BCSPCA's shelter in Lahaska where each cat was examined by medical personnel.

Margaret Vautard, the owner of the shelter, has been charged with animal cruelty and neglect. She told Fox 29 that she feels horrible about the condition of her shelter. She realizes now the mistake of taking in sick cats and did not anticipate their impact on the rest of the shelter.

The BCSPCA has waived fees for adult and working cats for the month of October in order to free up space in the shelter.

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