Fifteen sickly cats were seized from an Arlington home Thursday, and city animal control officers are expected to remove as many as 25 more early next week.

A family member called Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services Tuesday after the cats' owner was hospitalized in intensive care, according to city shelter manager Jen Walter.

The family member, who has the woman's power of attorney, estimated that 40 cats were in the home in the 5500 block of Commerce Street off University Boulevard North. The city's animal cruelty investigator and a veterinary technician visited to "assess the health of the cats and identify those in greatest need of medical attention," Walter said.

The 15 cats seized Thursday were "in need of immediate medical care," but Walter said she did not have any detailed information about their condition. The remaining cats were "not in immediate distress," she said. Family members are to care for them until city animal control officers remove them.

All of the cats have been surrendered to the city and will be available for adoption "as they are medically and behaviorally cleared," she said.

Animal neglect or cruelty charges are unlikely.

"We don't plan to pursue any charges due to the unfortunate circumstance and our inability to communicate directly with the owner of the cats due to her medical condition," Walter said.

The new arrivals stress a city shelter already over capacity. Since June 1, the shelter has taken in about 750 cats and kittens and about 350 dogs and puppies. The Jacksonville Humane Society, Lucky Cat Adoptions and Mayport Cats are helping with the overflow, but Walter asked the public to foster cats or dog, at least until the next Mega Adoption Event July 15-17.

Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109

JACKSONVILLE ANIMAL CARE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The shelter is at 2020 Forest St. Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, call (904) 630-2489 or go to coj.net/pets.