B.C. man 'so grateful' to SPCA as it prepares to remove hundreds of cats from his property

The man whose property was the subject of a fundraising appeal from the BC SPCA on Friday says he's "so grateful" the agency is taking in the more than 200 cats and kittens that are currently living with him.

The man whose property was the subject of a fundraising appeal from the BC SPCA on Friday says he's "so grateful" the agency is taking in the more than 200 cats and kittens that are currently living with him.

Bruce Robinson contacted CTV News last week to say he had reported himself for a potential animal cruelty investigation because the cat situation on his five-acre property in Houston, B.C., had "got out of hand."

It all started, according to Robinson, when he agreed to take in a neighbour's cat in 2019. That cat turned out to be pregnant, and – as a self-described "hillbilly" who lives alone – he decided to keep the kittens as company.

He said he took the animals for veterinary care and got them all spayed and neutered, but as the pandemic set in, he soon found more cats left on his property by neighbours and strangers.

While he was able to provide food and shelter for these newcomers, he was unable to keep up with their sterilization, and over time, the population exploded.

In its fundraising appeal Friday, the BC SPCA called the number of cats it is now planning to take in from Robinson's property "unparalleled" and "exceptional."

The effort is expected to drain the organization's resources, which is why it's asking the public for help paying for the animals' care.