SMYRNA, Tenn. -- Theresa Collins has lived in her Mitchell Avenue home for 12 years but now faces a problem she can't fix on her own.

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"They're like my children," said the mother of three. "And I love my children as much as I love my cats."

Thirty cats lived in Collins' three-bedroom duplex, but the cost of their care proved too much. The mess they left behind is obvious, and the family is in the midst of moving.

"I think she just got a little overwhelmed with her situation," said Tina Burfield, who runs Twisted Whiskers Animal Rescue. "It's horrific."

"And then I had to start realizing, well, maybe my husband was right: Maybe we had to get rid of them," said Collins.

The sight and the smell brought volunteers to Collins' home Sunday to fill food bowls and furiously try to figure out a plan.

"We removed 11 cats yesterday," said Burfield. "We have 19 left."

Volunteers are currently looking for families or rescue groups who can take Collins' cats.

"I think they're loved, because they're friendly and I think they'll all be adoptable," said Deanna Campbell, a rescue volunteer.

Without fast adoptions, the owner said she has no choice: The cats will wind up at the animal control shelter, likely to face death.

The mere mention of losing her cats brought Collins to tears Sunday. But she said it seems it's the best way, if it has to happen, of parting with her pets.

"I know now that you got to let something go if you love them," said Collins.

Anyone interested in helping the animal rescue groups can contact Tina Burfield of Twisted Whiskers Animal Rescue at 615-589-7844 or Jen Osborn of On the 5th Day Animal Rescue at 615-233-5398.

Smyrna Police took a report at Collins' home Sunday afternoon, but it isn't known whether she will face charges for what volunteers found.

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