Police: North Huntingdon cat hoarder said animals took over his house

Police said a North Huntingdon man told them he stopped staying at his township home because cats had overrun it.

In September, authorities rescued 73 cats from the property on Leger Road and removed 11 that died. Since being surrendered to Frankie’s Friends in New Kensington, another 22 cats died or had to be euthanized.

Matthew B. Jacobs, 44, called police Thursday morning after learning there was a warrant for his arrest, according to police Officer Ted Kukich. He was taken into custody without incident.

Jacobs was arraigned Thursday on more than 80 counts of cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals. He was released on $20,000 unsecured bond.

According to a criminal complaint, North Huntingdon and state police were trying to find Jacobs on Aug. 8. State police had a warrant on Jacobs after he failed to appear in county court for a hearing in another case.

Upon arriving at Jacobs’ residence, police said they noticed flies around the front door and a strong odor of ammonia coming from the house. Officers were unable to find Jacobs but were told where he might be.

Police found Jacobs at another home on Leger Road and took him into custody.

Police said Jacobs told an officer he was no longer staying at his house because cats overtook it, the complaint said. North Huntingdon police contacted the humane society.

When the first search warrant was carried out Sept. 8, authorities said they found 35 cats and nine dead cats. Inside the house, cat feces was all over the floors and furniture. Cat feces was inches thick in the basement.

The complaint said there were cats in the house that could not be caught. A second search warrant was carried out Sept. 15, during which the remaining cats were removed. Of the 82 cats removed from the house, 71 were alive. Two more were found outside, for a total of 73.

Becky Morrow, medical director and president of Frankie’s Friends, said each of the cats were at some level of starvation and were infested with fleas, according to the complaint.

Six cats died at Frankie’s Friends, and another 16 had to be euthanized, Morrow said. Of those 22, 14 died from a virulent strain of calicivirus, a respiratory infection. Parvo was another cause of death.

The 51 surviving cats are convalescing, eating, drinking and gaining weight, Morrow said.

“We are monitoring them closely. It appears they are out of the woods at this point,” she said. “I’m surprised we saved that many, to be honest. These were very severe diseases.”

To ensure the cats are no longer shedding viruses, the cats will not be put up for adoption for four weeks, Morrow said.

Jacobs is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 4 before District Judge Wayne Gongaware in North Huntingdon.