Significant progress made at North Jersey home where 120 cats were in need of rescue

Paterson Animal Control and a handful of involved shelters and rescue groups have made significant progress in a mass cat rescue at a home in Paterson where 120 cats and kittens were found on Feb. 15.

This mass rescue comes after the elderly woman who lives in the three-floor home called with what Paterson's Chief Animal Control Officer John DeCando described as a cry for help. Since then, around 80 cats and kittens have been removed from the home.

As of early Monday morning, there were 30 to 40 cats left, DeCando said.

Donna Moussa of Homeless Tails and Samantha Agosta of FOWA Rescue went into the house and retrieved 10 more cats at around 10 a.m. on Monday morning. Two volunteers from the West Milford Animal Shelter waited outside the home. They took five of the 10 cats to their shelter.

All of the cats that have been successfully removed have been taken in by Homeless Tails, Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, FOWA Rescue and other local shelters, where they are receiving any necessary medical treatment and will be put up for adoption.

"Dozens of cats remain — Until there are none, our work isn't done," said a post on the RBARI Facebook page.

All kittens, pregnant cats and sick cats were immediately rescued. Some of the cats have scarring on their eyes, blindness or neurological concerns, RBARI said.

"I want to thank all the groups that have been involved and all of the donations that have been pouring into these organizations," DeCando said. "If anybody knows anyone that is in this predicament, all they have to do is give us a phone call and we will be there to help. ... This lady knew all these cats' names, has cried for every one of them, but she just didn't have the money to have them spayed and neutered."

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Anyone interested in helping can donate to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge's medical fund on its website, rbari.org. All donations will go to medical treatment and sponsorship of medical treatment.

The website also features a wish list for donations of items such as food.

The RBARI social media pages will feature continued updates and information on some of the cats that have been rescued and will soon be up for adoption. The group asks that viewers and followers share their posts in hopes of gathering more fosters, adopters, rescues and donations.

"The lives of these innocent, deserving cats have been transformed this past week. But their family members still remain in the home amid horrific conditions," said a post on the RBARI Facebook page. "We were able to intake another batch of cats directly from the home today and will continue in the coming days, with your support."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ cat rescue efforts continue for the 120 animals