Published Jul 8, 2026
Image Credit: Pennsylvania SPCA
An appalling case of animal hoarding in Pennsylvania gives us a reminder that any cats, including purebreds, can fall victim to abuse and neglect and need to be rescued. (And spoiler alert: You may be able to adopt a rescued Ragdoll!)
In June, police in Lancaster, located in South Central Pennsylvania, went to a house on an unrelated call and found more than six dozen Ragdoll cats living in a filthy house filled with feces, urine, and trash. The police reached out to the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Law Enforcement Team. The humane officers obtained a warrant, joined the police, and removed 78 Ragdoll cats and kittens from this property! Seventy of the felines were signed over to shelter custody – several already have been adopted – and the remaining eight adult cats are in protective SPCA custody pending surrender or a court adjudication.
“The conditions inside this home were among the most severe our team has encountered,” said Nicole Wilson, Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Operations at the Pennsylvania SPCA, in a press release. “Our officers endured hours of extreme heat and extreme ammonia levels to ensure every single animal was safely removed. We are grateful to the Lancaster Township Police Department for their partnership in executing this warrant, and we are committed to ensuring all 78 cats and kittens receive the care they need and deserve.”
Image Credit: Pennsylvania SPCA
Gillian Kocher, director of public relations for the Philadelphia shelter, tells Cats.com in an e-mail that the Ragdolls came from the home of a former breeder. The felines rescued from the house are mostly adult cats, and 18 are juveniles and kittens. They received medical care, shelter, food and love at the SPCA and in foster homes.
The Pennsylvania SPCA is asking anyone with information about this case, or other suspected cases of animal cruelty in the region, to contact the shelter’s cruelty hotline at (866) 601-SPCA, or send an e-mail to [email protected].
If you live in or near Philadelphia and hope to adopt one of these Ragdoll refugees, they go quickly, Kocher says; the adults made available for adoption earlier in June were adopted the same day they were put up for adoption. As of late June, the Ragdoll kittens are still in foster care, as they were “too young and went into foster homes to grow big and strong,” Kocher says.
Image Credit: Pennsylvania SPCA
If you want to adopt a Ragdoll kitten from the shelter, watch the SPCA website every day and get there quickly if you see a Ragdoll listed. There is no waiting list, Kocher says.
“We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis and the animals will appear on our website when they are available for adoption,” she says. “Like in all of our cases, it is possible that the fosters may adopt a kitten, or may help find families for the animals in their care.”
Please consider sending a donation to the SPCA to help with care for these Ragdolls and other cats.
People may be surprised to learn that they can adopt a purebred, even a kitten, from a shelter. Buying a Ragdoll kitten from a breeder typically costs about $1,500 to $3,000, while adopting one from a shelter costs much less and saves a life. This Pennsylvania rescue case illustrates the variety of pets you can find at a shelter, Kocher says.
Image Credit: Pennsylvania SPCA
“I think the takeaway is that you can always find the animal you are looking for in a shelter,” she says. “Within the last three years, this is the second large scale Ragdoll rescue that the Pennsylvania SPCA has undertaken. It may take time, and patience, but you can find these breeds in shelters.”
The same applies to purebred dogs, Kocher says. In recent weeks, the SPCA has adopted out breeds including golden retrievers, corgis, and Pomeranians.
“We encourage anyone and everyone to consider a shelter first when adding a new family member,” she says.
If you are thinking about getting a fluffy Ragdoll for cuddles and love, we encourage you to first look for a rescued one, either through a shelter or a breed rescue group. The Ragdoll made our list of 11 cat breeds that act like dogs, because they are so laid back, friendly and cuddly. Ragdolls also made our list of 12 cat breeds that are calm. If you add a Ragdoll to your family, check out our list of 160 good Ragdoll names.
