Suffolk SPCA says more than 100 cats found in West Islip home

The Suffolk County SPCA charged a West Islip woman with animal neglect after more than 100 cats were found living in the "deplorable" conditions in her home.

Acting on an anonymous call on Tuesday morning regarding the improper care of multiple cats, SPCA officials arrived at the Patricia Avenue home, where an occupant who bred Maine coon cats for sale invited them inside, SPCA Lt. Ray Alvarez told Newsday in a telephone interview late Tuesday. The agency will investigate whether the woman was licensed to breed the animals.

Officers charged Grace Etzelberger, 66, also known as Grace Rovtar, with misdemeanor animal neglect and confinement, SPCA Chief Roy Gross said. She could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Her attorney information was not available on Wednesday. 

More than 80 Maine coons were spotted throughout the home, as well as in an RV and an ancillary structure on the property, Alvarez said.

"The conditions inside were deplorable, to say the least," he said. "Feces, urine; the odor was almost unbearable."

A Town of Islip fire marshal at the scene declared the house condemned, according to Alvarez.

Several of the cats were underweight and had severe upper-respiratory infections, Gross said. 

The felines were taken to animal shelters for evaluation and eventual adoption, he said. While the conditions and injuries varied, Alvarez said he noticed animals with "matted hair, some open sores, maybe some fleas, ear mites."

The Seaford-based Save A Stray Rescue took 38 cats out of the home, including six kittens that were being treated for upper respiratory infections and other ailments. About 32 of the adult Maine coons were taken to the Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh. 

Rovtar was listed on LinkedIn as the owner of a Maine Coon cattery, but the website and most social media pages were shown as removed or offline on Wednesday.

Newsday's John Asbury contributed to this story.