60 cats found on abandoned boat in US

60 cats were found and rescued from an abandoned boat off the coast of Washington state, USA, CBS News reported, citing local police.

In early August, a 12-meter-long abandoned boat was found near Owens Bay in Tacoma. A criminal case has been opened and an investigation is underway into the boat.

Tacoma police wrote on social media: “While we believe we have safely evacuated all the cats, cat owners know that they are very good at hiding. There may be more cats on the boat, so the work is not yet complete.”

Police and animal protection officers spent a week examining the boat and carefully removing the animals. On August 11, the last cat was rescued.

Law enforcement officers first learned about the abandoned boat on August 6. Police arrived at the scene and found dozens of cats living in dangerous conditions.

A photo released by police shows more than a dozen cats huddled in a corner of the ship.

“Most of the cats were scared and hungry. It took patience, care and a lot of teamwork to rescue them,” the police said in a statement.

Police are asking the public to help if they see any more cats on the ship. They are also advising people not to board the ship. Authorities plan to remove the ship from the shore if the owner does not return.

Tacoma’s rules limit the number of cats or dogs allowed in a household to six. Police have not released details of the investigation, but the incident could be considered animal cruelty and neglect.

It was previously reported that a kitten named Toby had 28 toes, setting a world record. That's ten more than the norm.