Cats rescued from New Kensington home could be ready for adoption soon

Most of the cats rescued from a New Kensington house last month where their owner died will be ready for adoption in a couple of weeks, a manager at Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue said.

New Kensington police are investigating what happened to the woman found dead Aug. 8 in her home at 1234¹⁄₂ Victoria Ave.

The woman, Marcia Smock, 68, had been dead for some time when she was found, investigators said. So far, no charges have been filed in the case.

The house has since been condemned.

Meanwhile, Frankie’s Friends and the Humane Society said they intend to file charges against whoever is found to have abandoned the 19 cats, intake manager Katie Smith said.

When they were taken to the shelter, the cats were initially isolated from other animals until they could be examined by veterinarian Dr. Becky Morrow.

All of the cats have been spayed or neutered and given vaccinations, according to Smith.

Now, it’s time for the hard part. The cats have to get used to people again, and that could take weeks.

“Most are very scared,” Smith said.

The cats are kept in a room away from other cats and shelter volunteers. Volunteers have been walking in quietly and sitting down to give the cats a chance to get used to people.

Some of the cats, mostly younger ones, are starting to approach people, Smith said.

“A couple of weeks. It will take a couple of weeks,” she said.

Frankie’s Friends is especially keen to have the cats adopted since it’s getting crowded in the shelter.

Soon after the weeklong rescue in New Kensington, the volunteers wound up taking care of 16 more cats — all outdoor cats — rescued from East Huntingdon.

Smith said the shelter welcomes donations of money or supplies and volunteers.