BBC NEWS | Americas | Mice suspected in deadly cat fire

BBC NEWS | Americas | Mice suspected in deadly cat fire: "Mice may be responsible for a blaze that killed nearly 100 cats at an animal shelter near the Canadian city of Toronto, officials say.

The fire at the humane society shelter in Oshawa also killed three dogs and some rats that were up for adoption.

An initial report from the fire marshal says mice or rats chewing through electrical wires in the ceiling are likely to have sparked the blaze.

Offers of help have been pouring in from animal lovers across Canada.

'It's unfortunate and ironic that mice caused the fire that killed the cats,' Toronto Humane Society spokesman Ian McConachie told the BBC News website.

'Unfortunately, the mice probably perished in the fire as well,' he added."