The owners of the deteriorating Bliss Building in downtown Albuquerque have two more weeks to determine the future of the property, following a temporary reprieve from the city.
ALBUQUERUQUE, N.M. – The owners of the deteriorating Bliss Building in downtown Albuquerque have two more weeks to determine the future of the property, following a temporary reprieve from the city.
But new details are emerging about what was inside the aging structure—far beyond the well-known Lindy’s Diner on the ground floor.
More than just a diner inside
The building, which partially collapsed on one side just a week after being declared a public safety hazard, housed multiple tenants. In addition to Lindy’s Diner, there were two art studios, a workspace, and a small apartment tucked into the back corner.
City officials had given all occupants two weeks to vacate after issuing a red-tag warning. However, part of the structure crumbled just one week later, accelerating concerns about safety.
Nearly 40 cats discovered in apartment
During the evacuation process, city officials made a surprising discovery. When they entered the apartment to notify the resident, they found nearly 40 cats living inside the roughly 1,000-square-foot space.
Animal Welfare was quickly called to step in.
“It happens often, more often than we like to see,” said Susan Ellis, associate director of Albuquerque Animal Welfare.
In total, 37 cats were removed from the apartment.
Rescue and recovery efforts
According to Animal Welfare officials, the situation, while crowded, was not the worst they’ve encountered.
“It was just your basic kind of messy house. I’ve seen a lot worse,” Ellis said.
The shelter was able to take in the cats without major strain, though timing played a role.
“If this were mid-summer, we might have been in trouble,” Ellis said.
Since the cats were voluntarily surrendered by the owner, staff were able to immediately begin medical care, including spaying and neutering, and preparing them for adoption.
Some cats ready for homes, others need help
Animal Welfare staff are now working to assess each cat’s temperament. While some are social and ready for adoption, others are more fearful and are undergoing a two-week behavior modification program.
“Some cats come around quickly… others may never be comfortable with people,” Ellis explained.
Cats that cannot be socialized may still find homes by being deemed “working cats,” where they’re placed in environments like barns for pest control.
A reminder about responsible pet ownership
Officials say situations like this are not uncommon, often linked to a lack of spaying and neutering.
“Get your animals spayed and neutered before you get overwhelmed,” Ellis said, noting the city offers free services for qualifying residents.
Ellis also emphasized compassion over judgment in cases like this.
“A lot of times, people don’t know, or they’re unable—physically or mentally—to care for that many animals,” she said. “We can’t start with judgment. We have to start with helping both the animals and the person.”
Adoption opportunities available now
All of the rescued cats are now available for adoption through Albuquerque Animal Welfare shelters and at PetSmart locations in Winrock and Renaissance.
So far, at least two cats have already found new homes.
What’s next for the building
Meanwhile, the future of the Bliss Building remains uncertain. Property owners say they were unaware of the extent of the situation inside the apartment, believing the tenant had only two cats.
They now have a limited window to decide what comes next for the unstable downtown structure.
