Metolius man gets help from BrightSide after nearly 100 cats rescued
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Metolius man who found himself caring for nearly 100 cats is getting help from BrightSide Animal Center, after the Central Oregon shelter stepped in to rescue the animals and provide medical care.
Last week, BrightSide staff visited the man’s home for the first time and removed 61 cats, most of them kittens. Kristen Davidson, executive director of BrightSide Animal Center, said the team plans to return this Wednesday with the goal of bringing in the remaining cats.
Davidson emphasized that the man is not in trouble and is not being treated as an abusive pet owner. Instead, she said, his situation reflects how quickly cats can repopulate when they are not spayed or neutered.
“Cats repopulate at a very high and fast rate,” Davidson said in an interview. “The man in question here, he loves cats. He is really just wanting to do right by these animals and really got himself into a situation he was not prepared for pretty quickly.”
According to BrightSide, all but four of the 61 cats brought in so far are kittens, and many are still nursing. Shelter staff prioritized removing nursing mothers and their litters, along with the youngest kittens, because they are most vulnerable to illness in crowded living conditions.
As expected in a home with that many animals, BrightSide’s veterinary team is seeing health problems among the cats, especially upper respiratory infections. Davidson describes URI as “kind of like a kitty cold,” but said it can be much more serious for very young kittens if not treated quickly.
“Even when somebody is doing the best they can, when you have this many cats living in that kind of space, it's inevitable they're going to get sick,” she said.
BrightSide plans to spay and neuter the cats before placing them for adoption and will also fix several of the man’s remaining pets, then return those animals to him. Davidson said the case highlights the importance of spay and neuter resources, which are available at low or no cost through several organizations in Central Oregon.
“Number one advice: spay and neuter, definitely,” she said. “No matter how many cats you have, go ahead, spay and neuter all of them if you don't want to end up in this kind of situation.”
BrightSide has already made some of the older kittens available for adoption and expects more cats and kittens to become adoptable over the next month, as they grow and complete medical treatment. Davidson said many of the cats are highly adoptable, and some are likely to appeal to Siamese cat lovers.
She added that community support has played a major role in the response, from donations of kitten food and formula to offers of foster care.
“The more that our community puts into us, the more we can put back into it,” Davidson said. “Seeing the community show up just reaffirms that people appreciate that we're providing this service.”
BrightSide Animal Center is encouraging local residents to help by fostering kittens, adopting a cat or making a monetary donation to support veterinary care and supplies. Those interested in helping can contact BrightSide at (541) 923-0882.
Reported: July 13, 2026; 11:40 am
Brightside Animal Center in Redmond is sounding the alarm after taking in more than 100 cats and kittens from a local resident.
The shelter says its staff is stretched thin, caring for newborns needing around-the-clock feedings, sick and underweight kittens, and mothers with litters.
Officials are now asking the community to step in and help as resources run low.
KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday spoke with shelter staff about the urgent situation—and what’s needed most right now.
Watch the full report tonight on KTVZ News at 6 pm.
