Animal shelter director Beth Vesco-Mock said the rats - some sickly and displaying evidence of fighting - are about the size of a four- to five-month-old kitten.
"They're probably as big as a 4-to-5-month kitten," said Ms Vesco-Mock. "They're much larger than I had anticipated
Animal control officers had taken two skinny dogs and about 170 rats to the shelter by mid-yesterday, and officers estimated there were at least that many rats still hiding in the Las Cruces home.
Authorities have charged 55-year-old Debbie Martin with three misdemeanours for excessive waste, improper care and maintenance of animals and dead animal removal. Each of the charges carry a maximum fine of $US500 ($600) or 90 days in jail.
Martin did not appear to be homebound, officers said. She "obviously let it get out of control", Vesco-Mock said. "They had free reign of the home and she was just throwing food out for them ... there's evidence that they had been fighting with each other.
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