The woman, Linda Sue Sainz, 62, from Texas City, is now recovering in hospital, while police search for the person who made a 911 call reporting her.
Police were alerted to the house by a mystery male caller who said his mother needed help and the back door was open, before hanging up.
Police officers found Linda "teetering on the brink of death", and even initially thought she was dead, until an officer noticed her blinking. She was taken to hospital, where doctors found maggots eating her flesh.
Police officer J.A. Patterson reported a stench like a decaying body in the house, a number of cats and an advanced state of disrepair.
Family members and neighbours told police they had not seen Linda for months.
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