‘Overflowing with faeces, urine’: 150 dead cats found in Japanese woman’s home

The rescue group staff member had been taking in the cats without its knowledge

A volunteer at an animal welfare group in Japan has been arrested after about 150 dead cats were discovered at her home in Kumamoto city.

Police and animal rescue volunteers found the bodies, some in an advanced stage of decomposition, on Tuesday after they entered the woman’s home to investigate a pet owner’s complaint to the animal welfare group on May 27.

The complainant said she had handed over four of her late mother’s pet cats to the suspect, who had promised her regular updates and photos, according to The Japan Times newspaper.

When no photos were forthcoming, the woman grew suspicious of the suspect, surnamed Miyata, and demanded the cats back. Miyata allegedly told her one of the cats had been diagnosed with kidney disease, then later said the animal had died.

“When we went to retrieve the body, we were met with a horrifying sight: patches of skin peeled away, limbs caked in faeces and urine, and a barely recognisable body,” the woman wrote in her complaint letter.

A necropsy revealed the cat’s stomach was empty, and its skin had likely deteriorated from prolonged exposure to waste and damp conditions. “Considering it had only been 10 days since we entrusted them, the suffering they endured in that short time is unbearable to imagine,” the woman said.

The animal protection centre had been receiving complaints about Miyata since July last year, Japan Today news website reported. However, in earlier visits, they were not allowed to enter her house and could not find any evidence of animal abuse from the outside.

On June 6, acting on the letter from the pet owner, the city filed a criminal complaint against Miyata for animal abuse and was finally able to enter the premises – leading to the horrific find.

Miyata had been taking in the cats from people giving up their pets without the knowledge of the group she had been volunteering with, Animal Assist Senju.

The Kumamoto-based organisation, which rehomes stray cats and dogs as well as surrendered pets, issued a public apology on social media on Tuesday, along with photos of Miyata’s trash-strewn residence, which it said was “overflowing with faeces and urine”.

“All the members of our group take what happened very seriously,” it said in another social media post. “We can only imagine what agonising pain the cats went through before dying.”

A total of 15 cats were confirmed alive, with 10 in quarantine and two being treated. Miyata has been banned from taking in cats, the group said.

Miyata told the group she could not explain her actions, according to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. She has been arrested on suspicion of violating animal protection laws, Japan Today reported.