The kitties that are not adopted face euthanasia.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

ANDOVER – One very pregnant white-faced cat crawled up a beam and scurried into the attic above. Another tri-colored money cat rested serenely between the rafters.

At least three or four six-month-old gray kitties with white paws and a variety of black and charcoal patterns peeked from behind the nearby stone wall. And in the basement a three-week old litter of buff-colored kittens was found.

They are but a few of the 70 or so cats and kittens found at a home in a remote section of Andover. Their elderly owners are ill. One is recuperating in a nursing home. The other is in a local hospital.

The town’s Board of Selectmen is trying their best to find homes for all.

A two-week amnesty has been granted on the felines’ lives. Selectmen don’t want to have them killed and they are trying everything they can to prevent it.

Selectman Joan Carney has been feeding and watering them since they were discovered last week, something she plans to continue doing until the cats are either adopted or destroyed.

On Wednesday, Animal Control Officer Ozzie Hart was catching some of the cats who have been adopted. He was also trying to find all the four-legged critters. They lived in the house, but also in the walls, attic, garage and dog house out back. All appeared healthy and many were young adults, only six-months-old or so.

Within hours of the first published story on Wednesday on the plight of the cats, two women have each adopted two of the cats. People have also brought food to the town office so Carney, or one of the other selectmen can continue to feed them. But there are a lot more homes to find.

Edwina Hardy of Rumford took home one buff and one gray cat Wednesday afternoon. Her beloved cat of 17 years had to be put down a short time ago. She also offered to provide some foster care for two more until permanent homes can be found.

“They are just gorgeous,” said Hardy. “They made a house a home.”

A woman from Gilead took two of the tiny, buff-colored kittens with her.

The Bethel Animal Hospital has donated free rabies shots for the first 20 cats adopted, said Carney.

Hart said the cats still without a home after two weeks will have to be destroyed because all the area animal shelters are full. He has no place to hold them.

Town Clerk Elaine Morton said the phone started ringing first thing Wednesday morning with people asking about the cats and what they could do to help. The town will keep a list of people who adopt them and those who donate food for their upkeep.

Anyone who wants to adopt one or more of the cats may contact the selectmen at the town office at 392-3302. Arrangements will be made for one of the selectman to show the cats to potential owners.

Hart said a similar incident occurred about four years ago in Bethel when 40 cats had to be taken from their owner. All were successfully adopted.

The same wasn’t true about three years ago in Andover. Selectman Trudy Akers said 25 cats had been abandoned by their owner. By the time they were rescued, they were too sick to put up for adoption and all had to be euthanized.

Akers hopes that doesn’t happen this time, particularly because the cats appear healthy. She has two cats of her own and isn’t interested in adopting another, but she will if it’s the last resort, she said.

Carney said the cats were discovered by a friend of the couple last week when she stopped in to check on the husband. His wife was in the hospital and he was alone. The friend then reported the number of cats and their living conditions to town officials.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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