WILDWOOD, Mo. – On the quiet Country Trails Court in Wildwood, Missouri, is a 6,000-square-foot home that was recently ruled by cats. It’s shown in pictures Carolyn Haydon obtained of her childhood home after being kept away for years. Pictures show things like a cluttered dining room, a staircase turned bookcase, and cats everywhere.

Haydon suspected it for months, but living in Virginia, she says she and other siblings were kept away by their elderly parents. She says her parents were influenced by someone living with them.

“We’ve been concerned for a long time about their mental well-being as well as the condition of the home,” she said. “That particular person said that the home was her safe space, and she did not want us in her safe space.”

Haydon started asking Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services to check on them beginning in May 2023.

“Her response was I’ve gone out and knocked several times, I have visited, nobody answers,” she said.

Outside are warning signs like tall grass, a stack of tires, and a back porch clearly unattended.

Sadly, Haydon heard from a family friend that her mother died Aug. 22. She confirmed it by randomly calling funeral homes. That’s how she finally got access to the house—and how authorities then took action.

Haydon added, “Literally, within hours, now there’s a warrant to now get into the house.”

We watched St. Louis County Animal Control leave the property. A spokesperson told us they don’t yet know how many cats were inside because they’re still looking for them. But that the count so far is over 130.

Animal control then later returned to remove more animals as we watched.

Why wasn’t action taken sooner?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services responded to NewsNation affiliate KTVI, saying, “We cannot confirm or deny that we have any reports at that address due to confidentiality, but Adult Protective Services does not perform welfare checks. Those are conducted by local law enforcement.”

St. Louis County Police added, “Our department does do welfare checks. In 2023, a Wildwood precinct officer made multiple attempts to gain entry into the residence by consent but was unsuccessful and refused by the residents.”

Haydon believes there must be a better way to look out for our elderly.

“I don’t want this to happen to another family,” she said.