More than 100 cats and kittens were taken to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County last week after Port St. Lucie Animal Control officials removed them from an alleged “hoarding situation,” according to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County.
In a 5:58 p.m. Oct. 16 social media post, the humane society reported Port St. Lucie Animal Control officials removed the animals over three days that week. The cats needed medical attention and nourishment.
“Most of the felines were infested with fleas and suffering from ear mites, and some had open sores requiring immediate treatment,” the agency stated. “We have moms and babies of all ages, with three females giving birth shortly after their rescue.”
Kittens rescued from reported hoarding case in Port St. Lucie
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Meilanie Detwiler, vet tech at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, on Oct. 20, 2026, with one of more than 100 cats and kittens that came to the organization after a reported hoarding case in Port St. Lucie. (WILL GREENLEE | TCPALM)
Police are investigating following the incident in the 2500 block of Southwest Warwick Street, according to an Oct. 20 release by Officer Brittany McNally, police spokesperson.
Animal control officials went to the residence Oct. 13 following “concerns about the number of cats inside the residence and the animals’ living conditions.”
“During the response, personnel documented unsanitary conditions, including accumulated feces and deceased kittens,” police stated.
McNally stated a total of 124 cats were accounted for. Two of three residents were issued citations related to hoarding and failure to provide medical attention to the kitties.
Sarah Wees, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, on Oct. 20 said the deluge of kitties has more than doubled the agency’s cat population.
The adults in the home, Wees said, surrendered ownership, and the ultimate plan is to put them up for adoption for their forever homes.
They must be medically cleared to go in to spay/neuter surgeries and then be adopted.
“The little ones who aren’t old enough or weigh enough for spay/neuter surgery, we want to get them medically cleared so that they can go into foster homes,” Wees said. “There are quite a few that aren’t that age yet (for spay/neuter surgery).”
Three of the cats were pregnant and had kittens in the humane society’s care.
Wees said some of the cats are on the thinner side.
“Some of them have open sores because of scratching at the fleas and the ear mites,” she said. “They’ve been scratching and scratching and scratching in the same places and so that creates open sores.”
Wees said they need the community’s support in terms of resources.
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The humane society reported those who want to help can donate via this link: https://vist.ly/5ns7z
Those wishing to volunteer can sign up via this link: https://vist.ly/5ns7y
The kitties, Wees said, have nice personalities.
“I think they will be easy to adopt out,” she said.
(This story was updated with photos and more information.)
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: More than 100 cats removed from alleged ‘hoarding’ case in Florida