Prosecutors say the squalid conditions inside the home put the children in danger and it was her 18-year-old daughter who called 911 to report the situation.
When 54-year-old Olena Horbatko headed into court in Glen Cove on Tuesday, she seemed woefully unaware reporters were here to speak to her.
She didn't respond to reporter questions about the cats, but police and animal rescue workers described the situation at the home on St. Andrews Lane.
For the past two days, workers in hazmat attire removed them not only from windows and cabinets, but from the walls as well.
"We were let in the house yesterday by the daughter and we were able to see first hand - what they were dealing with," said Glen Cove Police Department Det. Lt. John Nagle.
"There are multiple levels, multiple floors of live cat waste, litter boxes overflowing, it's amazing how somebody was allowed to live in this conditions," said Matthew Roper with the Nassau County SPCA.
Some of the cats appear to have eye infections and the SPCA said they all have respiratory disease and will need to be on medication.
Some also appear to be pricey breeds and neighbors said they've been complaining about the stench and cats wandering away from the home for the past five years.
"We found a website of her selling cats online that we emailed to police at the time," said neighbor Adam Sontag.
"We've been here in the past before and at one point it seemed that she was cleaning up the house and we thought the situation was rectified," Nagle said.
Horbatko's home is now condemned, and at court she told the judge she has nowhere else to live.
"She's entitled to her defense, she'll prove her case in a court of law like everybody else," said defense attorney John Ladis.
Animal rescue workers saying they hope these revelations inspire others to flag similar abuse.
"Cause these animals are voiceless, they need somebody to be the voice for them," Roper said.
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