Cats Try to Eat Incapacitated Owner at LA Apartment ( I Fell and I can't Get Up )

HeraldTribune.com ^ | 12/19/03 | unknown

[thesummerwind]

LOS ANGELES --

A group of hungry cats began to eat their 86-year-old owner after she suffered an apparent stroke and couldn't get up for nearly a week, officials said Thursday.

Mae Lowrie, who lives with seven cats, was discovered unconscious and riddled with bite marks Wednesday night at her Panorama City apartment, Fire Department and hospital officials said.

She was listed in fair condition at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Lisa Kort.

"The cats were trying to survive in the conditions that they were in, faced with the outcome they had. They did what they had to do to survive," animal control Officer Ernesto Poblano told KABC-TV. "The cats were all emaciated, very, very emaciated."

Lowrie may have suffered a stroke, said Jim Wells, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The woman's apartment manager alerted authorities after neighbors realized they hadn't seen Lowrie in several days.

Wells said Lowrie, who was believed to have been stricken about a week before she was found, was also dehydrated.

The cats, apparently without food for that time, also tried to eat Lowrie's small dog, said Jackie David, a spokeswoman for the city Animal Services Department. The terrier showed signs of hypothermic shock, severe dehydration, respiratory illness and was later euthanized, she said. One of the cats, a kitten, was found dead.

[thesummerwind]

Mae, just trying to wake you up, but that terrier looks delicious.

Seriously, this is a sad Holiday season story.

[thesummerwind]

On a serious note, this story could be a reminder for all of us to check on solitary, older folks in your neighborhoods over the winter and Holiday seasons. Maybe take them a food treat, ............. and maybe take something for the pets.

[thesummerwind]

A group of hungry cats began to eat their 86-year-old owner ............ Mae Lowrie, who lives with seven cats, was discovered unconscious and riddled with bite marks

Those cats needed a little meat tenderizer, and maybe a little Lowry's seasoning salt.

[EuroFrog]

Those cats had to be starving longer than a week in order to be that emaciated.

[EggsAckley]

[sweetliberty]

That one looks like a potential democRAT presidential candidate.

Ping! See what happens if the cats aren't fed on THEIR schedule.

[Budge]

Just like the democRATS Orcs in ROTK!

King Kat and Dammit, being growing kittens, try every morning to munch on me!

[martin_fierro]

[Hildy]

Meanwhile, MY DOGS would have jumped out the window, ran to the police station and summoned help. This is why I am definitely NOT a cat person!

[thesummerwind]

yoi, double yoi!

I have no idea what that was all about, but cats need to eat!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I think if they were trying to eat her she would have had more than bite marks. My spoiled cat bites me - hard! - when he wants me to get up in the morning. And yes, my cat has left bite marks on me.

[thesummerwind]

"my cat has left bite marks on me."

male or female......I'll bet it was a female........they are assertive wierdos!!!

Munch, munch!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Nope, my cat is a male. It's my fault that he bites me, I am responsible for correcting or not correcting that behavior in him. He's just spoiled, and it's my fault. He started the demanding morning behavior one morning after I prayed & asked the Lord to help me get up, I'm not a morning person.