There are more and more people who accumulate and accumulate dogs and cats in their homes

It happened in Madrid, end of 2024. The authorities entered the apartment of a woman from the Chamartín district who lived with 74 cats in such unsanitary conditions that, after the rescue and despite the shelter’s efforts, several of the cats died shortly after. Although that number (74) is shocking, Madrid is just one of the many (many) cases of ‘Noah syndrome’ that the police register every year, both in Spain and in other countries.

The issue makes headlines only when events as bloody as the one in Chamartín are uncovered, but the truth is that every time there are more studies which suggest that animal hoarding is a serious problem and (the key) growing.

What is Noah syndrome? a disorder similar to Diogenes syndrome (sometimes both overlap) which consists of the compulsive and disproportionate accumulation of animals, which in turn results in risk situations both for the latter and for those who suffer from the disorder and their immediate environment, especially if they live in a community. In general, beyond this hoarding, it is considered that the syndrome is accompanied by two other interrelated traits.

The first is that those who suffer from the syndrome end up being unable to keep their animals in good condition. It is not just about living with a disproportionate number of dogs and cats in more or less small spaces. People with ‘Noe syndrome’ are unable to attend to their most basic needs. The second characteristic is that they also do not see the problem. Although sometimes they themselves ask for help (It happened in Chamartín) usually deny their disorder, minimize it or are suspicious of those who try to help them.

Why is it a problem? For many reasons. To begin with, because often behind each case of Noah’s syndrome there is a drama. Those who hoard animals usually start doing so out of “good intentions,” such as recognizes PETA. Over time, however, its purpose is diverted and its disorder ends up leading to the opposite: “Criminal behavior with horrible consequences for animals, their families and communities.” Cats and dogs end up living cramped, surrounded by feces, and malnourished, a situation that worsens as the colony increases. And that is not difficult if their owner does not take care of castrating them.

A clear example of this dynamic was recorded not long ago in England, where 250 poodles that were living cramped in the same house were rescued. When it reported the case, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) published a photo in which you can see a room full of dirty and shaggy dogs. The image is so shocking that the RSPCA began to receive criticism from people convinced that it had been generated with AI. Those responsible had to come out to deny it categorically: “The image, shocking, reflects reality.”

How many people does the syndrome affect? In the statement which launched to vindicate the authenticity of the photo, the RSPCA not only insists on the drama of cases of Noah syndrome. It also leaves behind a worrying idea: its staff encounters “more and more frequently” cases of abuse in which multiple animals are involved at the same time: 10, 20 or up to a hundred. Why is it important? Because it gives us a clue about the incidence (and evolution) of the episodes that may fit into Noah’s syndrome.

To be precise, since 2021 RSPCA has confirmed a 70% increase in “multi-animal incidents” in England and Wales. Not everyone can relate to the syndrome, but the data is still eloquent. “Instances where large numbers of animals are kept in one home may be linked to mental health issues, the cost of living crisis or breeders operating with inappropriate practices,” precise the organization, which warns: “Even people who initially had good intentions often see the situation get out of hand.”

Is there more data? Yes. The RSPCA assures that last year alone responded to 4,200 alerts related to cases of abuse involving (at least) a dozen animals, always in the same address. And that’s just in England and Wales.

The organization warns of the impact of the rising cost of living, poor breeding practices and the increase in abandonments. Beyond the public health problem that they represent, cases like this directly affect the dogs and cats involved. Even if they are rescued, they often suffer consequences that make it difficult for them to find a new home. For example, they suffer stress when they are left alone, they have a hard time adjusting, or they urinate and defecate where they shouldn’t.

And beyond England? There are not many statistical or incidence studies on episodes of animal accumulation, but there are clues that indicate that the United Kingdom is not an exceptional case. In April 2025 Korea Times pointed out that the problem seems to be increasing in South Korea as well and not long ago NBC pointed in the same direction talking about the US. The German Animal Welfare Federation informed in September of the notification of 147 cases in one year with 8,911 animals affected. To give us an idea, there are about 2,000 more than the previous year.

What happens in Spain? In Spain, Noah’s syndrome has motivated (in addition to hundreds of news items) reports prepared by protective, lawyers either veterinary colleges.

One of the most interesting studies on the subject was published in 2014 by a group of researchers from the Affinity Foundation. After analyzing 24 case reports that affected 1,218 dogs and cats and 27 people, the experts concluded that the vast majority of those who hoard animals are elderly people (both men and women), socially isolated and who accumulated an average of about 50 animals, especially dogs. In 75% of the cases, the dogs and cats were poorly cared for, which included injuries, infectious diseases or parasites.

The phenomenon coincides with a change in Spanish society itself, which is increasingly older and in which incomes are also increasing. single-person households.

Images | Halogen Condense (Unsplash)

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