A Richmond, B.C., animal shelter is in dire need of support after an elderly man donated an estimated 100 kittens and cats to their care.
The cats were staying in a barn in Richmond owned by an 85 to 90-year-old man who lives alone.
When it became clear that many of the kittens were getting sick and needed help, he realized it was time to give them up.
"This man loved his cats, but he can't take care of them," Christie Lagally of the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) said Wednesday.
"I'm sure he didn't intend to have this many cats, it's just gotten a little out of control."
The shelter estimates that it will cost between $8,000 and $10,000 to take care of the approximately 100 cats - money that will only come from donations.
"We are a donor supported organization," Lagally said. "We are looking for help from the public to deal with this situation, because it can only get worse if it's not dealt with."
On June 15, the shelter transported the first batch of kittens - those most in need of care - away from the barn.
Many were suffering from respiratory illness, and needed to spend two days in treatment at a local veterinarian's office before they could be housed at the shelter.
The lesson, Lagally says, is to have your cats neutered - and it's not just house pets.
"If you're feeding a stray or feral cat, we're encouraging people to get it spayed or neutered regardless," she said.
Donations can be made at the RAPS website at www.rapsociety.com.
