‘This is strange’: 23 more cats rescued from abandoned Tacoma sailboat

Twenty-three more cats were rescued from an abandoned sailboat in Tacoma — bringing the total to 54.

Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd told KIRO Newsradio she believes authorities rescued all but two. Fifty-three were rescued by animal control, and then a citizen saw a cat fall from the boat and swam out to rescue it.

Boyd said the cats are doing considerably well, apart from some skin and fur issues.

“Generally speaking, they’re in OK condition,” she said.

One of more than 30 cats rescued from a vessel near Point Defiance Park in Tacoma Thursday. (Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Police Department)

Dozens of cats found abandoned on sailboat off Owen Beach

The cats were found Thursday after the unusual sight was called in by neighbors. Officers said they responded after receiving reports from people who spotted a lot of cats on a sailboat anchored just off Owen Beach, on the northern tip of Point Defiance Park.

Officials said the animals were living in what they considered unsafe conditions. Many of the cats left on board were afraid and looked like they hadn’t eaten in a while. And since it was a sailboat, those kitties found lots of places to hide on board.

Police said they used the boat’s registration numbers to determine who the owner is, and that law enforcement is working on contacting them.

“Those are things that are going to be kind of held close at this point,” Boyd said. “Obviously, the boat is registered, so there will be information from that.”

She noted the cats will see a vet, and that information, along with the conditions on the boat, will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office to determine charges.

Dozens of cats were found in an abandoned sailboat in Tacoma. (Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Police Department)

An unusual case for law enforcement

However, in her two decades with the police department, Boyd said this case was an odd one.

“This is strange,” she said. “Twenty years with the police department, and I mean, I haven’t found anyone yet that said, ‘Oh yeah, we had that once before.’ So yeah, this is a new one for us.”

Boyd advised the community to stay off the vessel as it has a registered owner and the police department doesn’t want to have any legal issues.

“Hopefully, this ends tonight,” she said.

When everything is said and done, there will definitely be some cats in need of new homes.

Contributing: Tom Brock, KIRO Newsradio

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