In a dramatic turn of events, over 300 cats were removed from a flat in Pune after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) served an official notice to the residents following complaints from society members. The notice was issued after an inspection of the property on Thursday, which revealed alarming living conditions for the cats.
Rinku Bharadwaj and her sister, Ritu Bharadwaj, who reside in a three-bedroom flat in the Marvel Bounty Cooperative Housing Society in Hadapsar, were the subject of scrutiny. The visit, which involved officials from the Pune district SPCA animal husbandry department, PMC, and the police, uncovered a situation far below humane standards. The flat was overcrowded with over 300 cats, many of whom were living in unsanitary conditions with a pervasive ammonia-like odor. Veterinary care was non-existent, with no vaccination or medical records available for any of the animals.
The flat had only four or five litter trays for the numerous cats, and fresh and dried feces were scattered throughout. The lack of sterilization and birth control measures led to uncontrolled breeding, with multiple pregnant cats observed. The caretakers admitted to being unaware of the exact number of cats and had no record-keeping in place.
In response to the situation, authorities have given the Bharadwajs 48 hours to relocate the cats to a more suitable environment. The incident has raised serious concerns about animal welfare and the management of large numbers of pets in confined spaces.
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