Two Charged After About 100 Cats Removed From Unsafe New York Apartment
Two Charged After About 100 Cats Removed From Unsafe New York Apartment
Police in Catskill, New York, have charged two residents after a search of an apartment uncovered approximately 100 cats living in conditions authorities described as unsafe and extremely unsanitary.
The investigation began Thursday, October 22, 2026, when the Catskill Police Department received information about conditions inside an apartment on North Street. Officers obtained a search warrant and entered the residence, where they found a large number of cats and conditions that officials said endangered both the animals and the people living there.
Police identified the two people arrested as Kayla Hackett, 38, and Barry Mower, 42. Both face multiple charges under New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law, including allegations related to animal cruelty and failure to provide adequate care. They were issued appearance tickets for Catskill Town Court and released. The charges are allegations; neither person has been convicted in this case.
The number of animals was still being clarified as rescuers worked. Police and some local reports described more than 100 cats, while other early coverage counted approximately 96. An exact final count was not established in the reports reviewed.
Authorities condemned the apartment because of its condition. The cats were removed with help from multiple animal-welfare organizations, including the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Schenectady County SPCA, AnimalKind, Hyer Rescue and the Albany County Animal Cruelty Task Force.
The animals were being evaluated by veterinarians, with plans to distribute them among shelters and rescue groups for temporary housing, treatment and continuing care. Individual medical findings and adoption timelines had not been confirmed for all the cats.
Why This Matters for Animals
Keeping a large number of animals is not, by itself, proof of cruelty. The essential question is whether each animal receives adequate food, water, sanitation, space and veterinary attention. Investigators must establish what happened, while rescue organizations address the cats’ immediate needs.
The response also illustrates the strain that large-scale seizures place on shelters. The Columbia-Greene Humane Society had already taken in 42 cats from a separate investigation earlier in October. That earlier case is distinct from this apartment search, but both require staff time, veterinary resources and suitable placements.
Sources: Porcupine Soup News, October 23, 2026, citing Catskill Police; Times Union, October 23, 2026; Times Union, October 17, 2026, on the separate earlier rescue.
