Woman Arrested on 29 Felony Counts After 124 Cats Taken From Home

A Florida woman was arrested Friday on 29 felony counts of cruelty to animals after more than 100 cats and kittens were taken from a Port St. Lucie home this month, police said. Kimberly K. Robinson, 66, was taken into custody in Indian River County, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, as reported by TCPalm.

The case began on October 13, when Port St. Lucie Animal Control went to a home in the 2500 block of Southwest Warwick Street after concerns about the number of cats inside and their living conditions. Officers first found more than 60 cats inside. Over three days that week, animal control removed the animals and took them to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County. Police accounted for 124 cats in total.

Investigators reported "extensive accumulations of animal feces and urine, an overwhelming ammonia odor, and numerous cats suffering from apparent untreated medical conditions," police said. Earlier reporting on the rescue said personnel also documented deceased kittens inside the home. Two of the three residents were issued citations for hoarding and for failing to provide medical attention, while the criminal investigation continued.

Why the arrest came now

Police said the 29 counts rest on veterinary findings for the first 29 cats evaluated. "The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be considered as investigators receive and review further veterinary medical findings and evidence related to the remaining animals," police said. Treasure Coast reporting on the updated case said members of a Marshals Task Force arrested Robinson after detectives obtained a warrant.

For the shelter, the case is still a daily workload. Sarah Wees, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, said on October 20 that the intake had more than doubled the agency's cat population. She said the adults in the home surrendered ownership of the animals, and the plan was to put the cats up for adoption once they were ready. Three pregnant cats gave birth shortly after the rescue, and one was too weak to care for her kittens, according to the shelter account in local reporting.

What happens next

Robinson's charges are allegations, and the case now goes through the courts in St. Lucie County. Police say the count list can still grow as veterinarians finish reviewing the rest of the animals. The shelter's work runs on a different clock: treatment, feeding and adoption for a cat population that doubled in a week because of one house on one street.