Woman charged after 20 cat skeletons found in home

[March 31, 2009]  APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- A woman was charged with animal abuse after a landlord found about 20 cat skeletons in a home she rented.

The eight charges filed Friday against 41-year-old Lorie A. Kuehl include five felony counts of mistreating animals. Prosecutors said the landlord entered the home in January after she abandoned it. The landlord found piles of animal feces and cat skeletal remains, some in a plastic garbage bag.

Police said Kuehl told them she took in stray cats, and about three litters were born while she lived in the home. She also told them she abandoned the home in September when the male cats became aggressive, and returned occasionally to feed them until stopping the visits.

Online court records didn't list an attorney for Kuehl.

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Information from: The Post-Crescent, http://www.postcrescent.com/

[Associated Press]

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