CONNELLSVILLE (KDKA) — About 50 cats were living in filth inside a local house.

Neighbors say the smell was so bad they couldn’t sit on their porch or even use their swimming pool.

Photos show the cats on the roof of the front porch. People living near Richard Stewart’s Connellsville home say the cats were going in and out of windows and running freely through the neighborhood.

Neighbors even saw one fall from the roof.

Diane Kerr, who has lived on Eliza Street for 28 years, called police when the smell coming from the house became too much to bear.

Photos from inside the house show deplorable living conditions, including a bed covered in feces.

“These cats were like getting in duct work and everything else – every little crevice you could possibly figure – you know how cats are,” Connellsville Police Chief James Capitos said. “There were even kittens found in one of the upstairs rooms.”

Approximately 50 cats have been taken by the SPCA, but police say it’s possible more are still inside.

Traps have been set to make sure they are all found. Four dogs were taken too.

“All the rooms filled with feces – just an absolutely horrible smell. You couldn’t go in there without a protective suit on – that’s how bad it was,” Chief Capitos said.

The owner of the house will be charged with disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals. If he doesn’t clean up the house in 60 days, he could face additional charges.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Fayette County News