Springfield woman told to get rid of 80 cats

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) – A Springfield woman has been told by animal welfare officers to downsize her collection of 80 Bengal cats after complaints from neighbors.

The Register Guard reported Thursday that the city could press criminal charges if Debra Perryman doesn’t comply.

The city has offered to help her find new homes for the cats and is suggesting she keep no more than five of the animals.

She told authorities that she bought two Bengal cats in 2013 to breed them.

But she fell in love with the kittens and kept them all — and their numbers of grown ever since.

The cats are in good health and well-fed and groomed. Perryman goes through a 50-pound bag of kibble every two days.

Bengals are a specialty breed of cats that resemble miniature leopards.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com