CAT-TASTROPHE!!!

Subby · 07-12-2005, 07:50 AM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/11/AR2005071101489_2.html

Strong Odors Expose N.Va. House's Secret
By Leef Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2005; B01

From the outside, Ruth Knueven's Mount Vernon home has real charm: a verdant lawn, manicured hedges, flowers blossoming from fresh mulch beds and, near the front door, a garden ornament depicting two playful cats.

But police said that what lurked inside Knueven's two-story home was hardly so delightful. Hidden behind that garden ornament was a house bursting with real cats.

Animal control officers removed 273 creatures -- 86 of them dead -- after neighbors complained vehemently of odors Friday. Cats were still being plucked from the house yesterday, extracted from the walls and from deep within the brick chimney. Traps were set.

"I don't know how they got in there," Fairfax County police officer Richard Henry said of the hidden cats.

Before leaving, officials slapped a bright-orange sticker on the front door, condemning the dwelling on Ludgate Drive that they said was overflowing with feline feces and urine. Knueven, 82, and her husband and daughter were ordered to leave.

Last night, police said, Knueven returned to the house and ripped down the condemnation order. Animal-control officers found her inside trying to smuggle an additional 30 cats out of the home, bringing the total last night to 303. The animals were confiscated, and more traps were set.

Police said the cat cache wasn't so isolated. Two weeks ago, police were called to the Falls Church home of Jane Baldinger, 58. They removed 88 cats -- 29 of them dead -- and a dog.

Officials condemned that home, too, which they said was overrun with animal waste that filled a toilet and bathtub and otherwise destroyed the plumbing. Baldinger was given an unfit owner petition and a summons for failure of an owner to care for animals.

"These people believe that they're doing what is best for the animals," said John Yetman, Fairfax County environmental health specialist and chairman of the county's Hoarding Task Force. "Unfortunately, they're not. As a result, their own homes become severely deteriorated and unhealthy."

Police said that nearly all the animals collected from the two homes were feral, were unfit for adoption at shelters and will be destroyed.

Residents in Knueven's neighborhood, an enclave of large homes that back up to George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation, were nearly united in their disgust, portraying their neighbor as a woman who was obsessed with cats.

They said that Knueven spent years taking in strays, which multiplied inside her home and caused years of headaches for neighbors. They say she tried, unsuccessfully, to mask the odor with incense, burning it in her back yard.

As early as August 2001, officials were aware that there was a problem when complaints prompted officers to remove 100 cats from the Knueven home. At the time, police did not release Knueven's name. They confirmed the incident yesterday.

Police had allowed Knueven to keep five cats. But neighbors said the feline population continued to grow.

Police said they found dozens of dead cats stuffed in plastic bins. Although some neighbors said the live cats were kept inside the house, one neighbor recalled seeing as many as 20 on the front lawn when police arrived to investigate complaints.

Even with most of the cats removed from the house, a strong odor lingered on the front stoop, where flies buzzed.

"You couldn't walk by the house" without smelling the odor, said one neighbor. "It's just been unbelievable. The whole thing has been awful, just awful."

Officials have said Knueven, her husband and daughter can return to the house when order is restored. She was issued two criminal summonses for failure of owner to care for animals and one summons for failure to dispose of dead animals properly. A civil petition charging her as an unfit owner was also issued.

Officials say the circumstances that lead to hoarding are complex and are often exacerbated by the co-dependency of family members.

"Some are psychological, and some are illness," Yetman said. "But whatever has started this process, the consequences are that they don't make good decisions."

Butter · 07-12-2005, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby

Hidden behind that garden ornament was a house bursting with real cats.

That makes it sound like the house was a pack of Skittles... bursting with fruit flavor. Hey, that's not fruit.

rkmsuf · 07-12-2005, 08:00 AM

what's a few dead cats

Subby · 07-12-2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

what's a few dead cats

Schmidty and Kodos are going to rip out your heart for saying that.

rkmsuf · 07-12-2005, 08:09 AM

her mistake was not grinding them up and making sandwiches

Rizon · 07-12-2005, 08:23 AM

When we were kids, there was a "cat lady" that lived down the street. Except she had maybe a couple dozen cats, and her yard was overrun with weeds. When you walk by her house, it reaks of urine. She still lives there to this day, with her 45 year old son. She also shows up to all the city council meetings and complains about everything.

JeeberD · 07-12-2005, 08:27 AM

I want to have like 75 cats when I'm a crazy old man. I'm gonna spend my pension on catfood and litter...

Kodos · 07-12-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

what's a few dead cats

I prefer to eat dead rkmsufs. They need less salt

I don't want to disappoint Subby!

Edit: By the way, this lady should be thrown in jail for animal cruelty.

WSUCougar · 07-12-2005, 08:51 AM

Charming Mount Vernon home with verdant lawn, manicured hedges, and flowers blossoming from fresh mulch beds. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. Pet-friendly. Slight odor. Okay, so maybe it's not so slight. Bursting with cats. 300+ of 'em.

DEAR GOD, DON'T BUY THIS HOUSE!

Desnudo · 07-12-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

what's a few dead cats

A good start?

Klinglerware · 07-12-2005, 09:34 AM

Oh. I thought this was going to be a thread about GroundCat's chances for a power grab in SkyDog's absence...

SFL Cat · 07-12-2005, 10:21 AM

Hmmm, I thought the thread was a commentary on the "Catwoman" movie.

hhiipp · 07-12-2005, 10:35 AM

SFL, it's good to see you are one that they didn't put down.

SelzShoes · 07-12-2005, 10:48 AM

My wife and I have 4 cats (we had five til the old alpha male had a stroke and had to be put down

) and it is a helluva lot a work keeping the litter clean, house hair free, etc. I can't imagine letting yourself be taken over by that many animals. It is cruel to the animals, it is cruel to the humans. I wouldn't be surprised if most of those cats will have to be put down because of illnesses. Too many people think cats are an 'easy' pet, but when you take responsibility for another life, there is nothing easy about it.

QuikSand · 07-12-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelzShoes

My wife and I have 4 cats...and it is a helluva lot a work keeping the litter clean, house hair free, etc.

Quote:

I can't imagine letting yourself be taken over by that many animals.

Sounds to me like you have already lost that battle.

Klinglerware · 07-12-2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelzShoes

Too many people think cats are an 'easy' pet, but when you take responsibility for another life, there is nothing easy about it.

I think I'll get a robot vacuum cleaner instead...

07-12-2005, 08:00 AM	#3
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	what's a few dead cats __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

07-12-2005, 08:09 AM	#5
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	her mistake was not grinding them up and making sandwiches __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

07-12-2005, 08:27 AM	#7
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	I want to have like 75 cats when I'm a crazy old man. I'm gonna spend my pension on catfood and litter... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

07-12-2005, 08:51 AM	#9
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Charming Mount Vernon home with verdant lawn, manicured hedges, and flowers blossoming from fresh mulch beds. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. Pet-friendly. Slight odor. Okay, so maybe it's not so slight. Bursting with cats. 300+ of 'em. DEAR GOD, DON'T BUY THIS HOUSE! __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

07-12-2005, 10:35 AM	#13
hhiipp College Prospect Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: OH	SFL, it's good to see you are one that they didn't put down. Last edited by hhiipp : 07-12-2005 at 10:35 AM.

07-12-2005, 09:34 AM	#11
Klinglerware College Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The DMV	Oh. I thought this was going to be a thread about GroundCat's chances for a power grab in SkyDog's absence...

07-12-2005, 10:21 AM	#12
SFL Cat College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: South Florida	Hmmm, I thought the thread was a commentary on the "Catwoman" movie.

07-12-2005, 10:48 AM	#14
SelzShoes High School Varsity Join Date: Apr 2005	My wife and I have 4 cats (we had five til the old alpha male had a stroke and had to be put down ) and it is a helluva lot a work keeping the litter clean, house hair free, etc. I can't imagine letting yourself be taken over by that many animals. It is cruel to the animals, it is cruel to the humans. I wouldn't be surprised if most of those cats will have to be put down because of illnesses. Too many people think cats are an 'easy' pet, but when you take responsibility for another life, there is nothing easy about it.

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