Lander resident raises funds to rescue 19 cats from hoarding home

Cori Slingerland committed to helping a neighbor and a large group of cats two weeks ago in Lander. She did not know the exact number of animals inside the house when she made the promise. She only knew she had waited long enough to act. Slingerland owns an insurance agency in Lander and has two rescue dogs. She is not a professional shelter worker, but she described herself as a magnet for stray animals.

The cats are not strays. They live in a hoarding situation in a home belonging to Slingerland’s neighbor. Slingerland said she watched the neighbor's mental condition decline for years. The neighbor's daughter lives in Gillette and had tried to get help for her mother for a long time. Slingerland believed her status as a stranger helped start the process. She spoke with the home owner and helped her enter residential mental-health treatment. The sheriff's office notified the daughter, who now manages her mother's care and the property cleanup.

When Slingerland first entered the house, belongings were stacked high on every side. A narrow walkway remained through the clutter. Cats moved between the piles, making it difficult to count them. Slingerland said the smell was unbearable. She now works with volunteers, local shelters, and the Fremont County Sheriff's Office to care for roughly 19 cats. The team feeds the animals and changes litter boxes. Kennels with food have been set up outside for cats that live outdoors. The group plans to start trapping those cats next week.

Two kittens have already been removed from the house. They are being cared for at Lander Pet Connection. A third kitten died, likely from breathing ammonia in the house. Another cat, formerly named Lily, became trapped under the clutter. Slingerland renamed her Sapphire. The cat was pulled from the house on Wednesday and taken to a veterinarian. By Thursday, Dr. Mike Then of Moose Ridge Veterinary Services determined her condition was too serious. He put the cat down and is burying her on his property.

Slingerland contacted Lannie Hamilton, the veterinarian for Lander Spay and Neuter. Hamilton was on vacation in Alaska but wanted to help. The house is in the county, not within Lander city limits. Hamilton said the group usually offers free services only within its service area. She offered a discounted rate of $65 per spay. The estimated total cost for 19 cats is about $1,500. Slingerland posted on Facebook on Wednesday to ask the community for donations. She said she needed to raise the money to care for the animals before winter.

Hamilton said the community responded quickly. Slingerland showed photos and asked for money. In five hours, Lander raised the necessary funds. Donations also included bags of cat food, litter, and offers to help with trapping or adoption. Slingerland said she still needed about $500 as of Friday morning. People can donate through her personal Venmo account or directly to Lander Spay and Neuter. She said the next step is to get the animals off the property. She does not know what will happen after they are spayed and neutered, but she wants to ensure they have a chance at a healthier life.