Kumamoto, Japan: Authorities in southwest Japan have uncovered a shocking case of animal neglect after around 100 dead cats were found at the home of a woman affiliated with an animal welfare group. The discovery has sparked outrage and raised questions about internal oversight within rescue organisations.

The group, Animal Assist Senju, issued a public apology on social media after the gruesome find, sharing images of the house littered with waste. It described the conditions as “overflowing with faeces and urine”.

The woman, identified as a staff member of the group, is said to have acted independently, taking in dozens of cats without informing or receiving approval from the organisation. The charity, which is based in the Kumamoto region, normally works to rescue animals from shelters and rehome them.

“One of the cats was found unrecognisable, with its skin partially peeled and its paws soaked in urine and faeces,” the group wrote in a weekend Instagram post. It has since barred the woman from keeping cats.

City officials and animal rights volunteers launched an inspection after receiving a tip-off about a cat's death. Two visits were made to the property before a full rescue operation was carried out. Kumamoto City’s animal protection centre said the number of dead cats was initially estimated at around 100, though some media reports suggest the figure may be higher.

Twelve cats were found alive and rescued from the site, according to Tsutomu Takimoto, a city animal welfare official.

Legal action against the woman has not yet been confirmed, but the case has drawn sharp criticism and widespread attention on social media. Animal Assist Senju said it was “taking the matter very seriously” and expressed regret over the suffering endured by the animals.

“We can only imagine what agonising pain the cats went through before dying,” the group posted.