Rhonda Spivey had ants that killed her cats

**malq** · October 9th, 2009, 01:03 AM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Nine cats were killed in a Volusia County house fire, which was caused by a colony of ants Tuesday morning, fire officials said.

Rhonda Spivey, the homeowner, said she had about 80 cats in her home on Vine Street in Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach fire said it recovered 36 cats from the home, nine of which were dead.

Spivey said she and her husband live in the home with the animals. She said people gave them cats and promised to come back to get them but never did.

Lt. Fred Godawa of the fire department said a colony of ants formed a nest around an electrical outlet on the living room wall, which sparked the fire. The investigator said it was first time he had seen a fire caused in this manner, according to Godawa.

The fire caused about $50,000 in damage. The couple said they are not insured.

Eleven of the cats were taken to the Flagler County Humane Society and seven were taken to the Arnie Foundation.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21216397/detail.html

How bad do the ants have to be before they are dealt with? I see one and I am taking care of it. like now!

**sheevaa** · October 9th, 2009, 01:08 AM

Rhonda Spivey, the homeowner, said she had about 80 cats in her home on Vine Street in Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach fire said it recovered 36 cats from the home, nine of which were dead.

Eleven of the cats were taken to the Flagler County Humane Society and seven were taken to the Arnie Foundation.

Okay, assuming my math doesn't terribly suck and those figures are all "extra" cats, there are still 26 unaccounted for felines. What the hell happened to them?

**sanityslipping** · October 9th, 2009, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by sheevaa

Okay, assuming my math doesn't terribly suck and those figures are all "extra" cats, there are still 26 unaccounted for felines. What the hell happened to them?

I was thinking the same thing, but my head is too foggy to bother rereading the numbers.

I'd also like to add um....did they just reach a point that they decided "one more cat won't make a difference" or did they actually accept these cats, and still believe (even after the first 60 or so) that the owners would come back?

**TDH** · October 9th, 2009, 01:47 AM

shes the crazy cat lady your momma always warned you about....

**sheevaa** · October 9th, 2009, 02:02 AM

Man, I worry about getting my two babies out in case of a fire...80? not a chance:/ Poor kitties

**carolinablue** · October 9th, 2009, 08:29 AM

she's obviously a hoarder. these people have serious mental health issues; they really think they're saving the animals, but they don't do anything except collect them. usually the cops and the Humane Society have to be called in to intervene. as soon as the animals are removed and the hoarder gets out of jail or pays the fine, they start right up again.

**Just my luck sucks** · October 9th, 2009, 10:20 AM

The couple said they are not insured.

This makes me sad.

Electronic devices near Houston, Texas, are under attack by a species known as the "crazy rasberry ant" (Paratrechina species near pubens), which is thought to have arrived as a stowaway on a cargo ship in 2002. According to the Associated Press, the ants seem to be attracted to electrical equipment and have been "shorting out electrical boxes and messing up computers" wherever they go.

Quote from Slate.