Ames woman sentenced to 2 years probation for hoarding nearly 30 cats

An Ames woman was sentenced to two years of probation in a major animal hoarding case.

Jennifer Thompson, 42, was arrested on Feb. 1, 2024, on two counts of animal neglect and one count of animal neglect with injury after officers found 27 cats living in unsanitary conditions in her apartment.

Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Control staff rescued the cats on December 13, 2023. The animals reportedly had no access to fresh water or food, kept in an apartment “filled with garbage and animal droppings.

Thompson pleaded guilty May 20 to one count of animal neglect causing serious injury or death and asked for immediate sentencing.

In response, the state of Iowa sought more than $24 million in monetary damages for “medical and boarding” expenses the Ames Animal Shelter incurred caring for infected animals. .

The court ruled that the Ames Animal Shelter assumed the “care, custody and control” of the animals. Therefore, any expenses related to caring for or providing shelter for the cats were “the result of the City’s own action.”

More: Ames resident arrested on three counts of animal neglect for keeping 27 cats

27 cats found in unsanitary conditions

Property management alerted the Ames Police Department in late 2023 that Thompsen's apartment on Tripp Street was full of trash and animal feces. Police said they could hear animals inside the apartment, but no one opened the door when they arrived.

Feces were found along the doorstep and flies were coming out from under the door.

The 27 cats had access to only one litter box, according to court documents, while their food and water were placed in and around the animal waste.

Excess animal feces covered much of the apartment's floor and most of an uncovered mattress, according to court documents. Trash was scattered throughout the house and flies littered the walls of the apartment.

Cats treated for neglect, illness

A local veterinarian identified signs of respiratory illness in several rescued cats, including runny eyes, noses and coughing. The vet described it as “one of the worst situations [they had] seen for the condition of animals and neglect of basic needs” during their 47 years of veterinary and animal welfare practice.

Twenty-five cats required multiple medications to treat parastatal infections when they arrived at the animal shelter. All but one of those cats required mite treatment, according to a release from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

Eleven of the cats received antibiotic treatment for feline upper respiratory infections, including congestion, sneezing and eye problems. Specifically, three kittens aged two to six months had serious viral infections.

One of the rescued kittens lost an eye due to an untreated corneal ulcer.

Thompson reportedly said she knew the kitten needed medical attention, but did not have the funds to take it to a veterinarian. Instead, she admitted to giving the kitten expired oral antibiotics, according to court documents.

The 42-year-old allegedly had a history of surrendering sick cats to local animal shelters, according to court documents.

More: Hoarding Cases Motivate Ames Animal Shelter to Warn Against Proper Cat Care

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be contacted at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames woman sentenced to probation for hoarding cats in poor conditions