More than 80 cats were taken from an area home after the woman was found to be hoarding animals.

Since all of the animals were surrendered voluntarily - no animal cruelty charges were filed.

Stephanie Frommer , field services director and animal cruelty officer for Monadnock Humane Society, said the forfeiture, came in a wave over the past three weeks or so.

"You know in the winter people stay inside, you don't see the animals or hear them or smell them," she said. "But once spring and summer come, people start to take notice more."

The woman who started out with a few cats didn't realize how quickly they could multiply.

Frommer said the woman reported that problems arose when her boyfriend brought home an un-neutered male cat; until then, all her cats were females. Shortly thereafter, the brood grew to include more than 80 cats.

"I think in this case she was embarrassed to tell anybody or ask for help," Frommer said. "I think she really wanted to see the situation resolved but wasn't sure what to do."

Unlike many other animals, cats can go into heat several times a year, have several litters in a year and can start to reproduce at as early as five months old.

The woman came to the attention of her local animal control officer, who then got the Humane Society involved. There were so many cats, Frommer said, they had to be taken out in several batches over the past several weeks. Although the woman kept them fed, many had evidence of ringworm and severe chronic upper respiratory infection. Some of the kittens succumbed to the infection and died, while at least 30 others had to be euthanized, Frommer said. Still more were given to foster parents, The Upper Valley Humane Society and other agencies.

For the ones that were euthanized, Frommer said there were no other options. Ringworm is highly contagious and can be passed from animals to humans.

Out of concern of spreading disease, the animals could not have stayed with other cats in a shelter or go to foster homes, Frommer said.

Frommer said the situation is sad for the animals and their owners.

"The animals are not being provided with all the care that they need, and the individual cannot possibly keep up with the needs of that many animals.

"And for the people hoarding the animals, they are living in homes that are uninhabitable or barely habitable. ...On some level they do love these animals, and it's sad for them to have them taken away. But when that happens, I always hope for them that it's a chance for them to make a fresh start."

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