Four cats have been rescued from a home in Clacton thanks to a joint effort by police and the RSPCA after the occupier died.
On arrival to the house, officers found the dead man had an extreme hoarding habit, with newspapers and canned goods reaching the ceiling.
Concerns were raised by neighbours following the man’s death that his four pet cats were still in the property.
PCSO Dan Brown from Clacton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team was called upon by the RSPCA to help access the home.
Because the occupier of the house had no family, the police were in possession of the keys to the property.
The PCSO was met by RSPCA inspectors Sarah Elmy and Caroline Richardson.
The extremity of the hoarding habit made the home difficult and dangerous to move around in, the officers claimed.
With no clear sight of the cats in the home, the team then moved into the garden, where they found evidence that the cats had been living outside.
After attempts to entice the cats out, Mr Brown and the inspectors left humane trapping equipment in various locations in the property.
They checked back every day for a week, where eventually all four cats were caught and have since been placed in the care of RSPCA animal rescues.
Mr Brown said: “The situation at the house was very sad, and of course it was imperative that we got the cats out of the house as soon as possible. They were desperate for food and had resorted to drinking dirty water from a kitchen sink.”
Ms Elmy said working in partnership with other organisations in Essex was important to the work of the RSPCA.
“We are grateful for the help of PCSO Brown and his colleagues from Clacton Police Station, who worked with us to ensure a happy outcome for these cats, who deserve loving homes,” she added.
Three of the cats, since renamed Peter, Piglet and Tigger are currently at Southridge RSPCA Animal Shelter doing well and are waiting for new homes. The fourth cat, now called Sir Scat Cat, although quite nervous, is currently waiting for a home at Danaher RSPCA Animal Home.
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