Abandoned cats overwhelm apartment

YOUNGSTOWN — “Don’t mind the smell.”

Helen Zbell tossed the warning over her shoulder as she climbed unsafe steps to the vacant apartment above hers at 1934 E. Midlothian Boulevard on Thursday. As she pushed open the unsecured door, she issued the smell warning again.

The 72-year-old strawberry blonde didn’t exaggerate. The place is pungent.

The noise of the door opening brought forth several inquisitive and friendly cats. More cats were in the kitchen, near the food and water, while still more lounged over a bedroom heating grate.

In a cupboard under the kitchen sink a mother cat nursing four kittens stirred when Zbell bent down to check on them.

In all, the small, stinky apartment is home to 10 felines, no humans. Another cat stays outside. There’s a food dish on the front porch for him.

The mother and daughter who lived in the apartment left the cats when they moved out several weeks ago, Zbell said. “It’s a disgrace, those women ought to be put in jail,” she added.

For more, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com