Police in Cartagena have opened an investigation in an effort to identify whoever abandoned 24 cats in a derelict building beside the La Asomada road last Friday.
The animals were found after local residents raised the alarm. They were later rescued by the animal welfare charities Geocat and Animur, which transferred them to safe facilities.
According to the City Council, twenty of the cats have already been placed in foster homes. The remaining four are being looked after at the municipal animal treatment centre while further assessments are carried out.
The case has been classified as suspected animal cruelty. Officers have appealed for information from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.