- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 04 May 2025 09:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A foul odour coming from a home in Bohemia led police and emergency crews to a gruesome discovery over the weekend as nearly 100 dead cats were found in various states of decomposition, including several stuffed inside a freezer. Emergency services responded around 3 pm (local time) after multiple reports of an overwhelming odour coming from a residence in the quiet Long Island neighbourhood. What they encountered was a grisly scene that shocked even seasoned first responders.
According to Bohemia Fire Department First Assistant Chief Brian Olsen, firefighters were initially dispatched to investigate the source of the smell. Upon entry, they found cat corpses strewn across various parts of the home, with some disturbingly stored in a freezer. Olsen stated, “They notified us about cats and dead cats in the dwelling. They are at this time condemning the house.”
The scene was so hazardous that the Islip Town Hazmat Team was called in to address high levels of ammonia in the air, a dangerous byproduct of accumulated animal waste and decomposition. The home has since been declared uninhabitable.
Long History Of Cat Sightings
Neighbours were not surprised to learn that the house was the source of the troubling discovery. Many had witnessed large numbers of cats in the area over the years. Brandon Gennarelli, a resident who lives nearby, shared, “I’ve lived here my whole life, and we’ve just seen cats coming in and out… at their garage and front door.”
He added that stray cats frequently roamed the neighbourhood’s yards. “We kind of assumed that it’s coming from somewhere over here,” he said.
According to the police, photos taken at the scene showed several live cats still inside the home, visibly distressed and pawing at the windows as emergency crews worked to assess the situation. Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone currently resides in the home, nor have they revealed the condition of any surviving animals. Officials from the Suffolk County SPCA, local police, fire marshals, and building inspectors were all on site to support the investigation and determine if criminal charges will be filed.
