This happened just down the road from my house yesterday:

Cat-filled home deemed uninhabitable
Authorities remove 28 cats, look for owner of residence
By J.E. Espino Post-Crescent staff writer
APPLETON — A house on the city's south side, where some 28 cats were found unattended Sunday, was posted as uninhabitable by city health officials.

Police and fire officials were on the scene for more than 11 hours Sunday, cleaning up debris and getting the animals safely out of the home. They filled the garage with mattresses, cloths, blankets, sofa cushions and chairs soaked in urine that they removed from the house.

Attempts to locate the homeowners as of late evening had been unsuccessful, said police Lt. Greg Franzke.

Authorities said the cats were hiding in the basement, bedrooms and a crawl space that runs the length of the house.

"There's all kinds of pictures, crystal glasses, boxes, stuffed animals, garbage everywhere and feces that has multiplied by 'nth' degree. It's unbelievable," said Robin Spears, a humane officer for the police department.

Police initially were called to the home at 1412 S. Kernan Ave. about 11:15 a.m. on a report of a possible restraining order violation. When officers arrived, no one was home.

Franzke said they went through the back, found the house was unlocked and "knew something was wrong."

Police were unable to determine how long the animals had been left on their own or if they had had human control. Spears described the animals as "very wild." A bag of food was found in the house, but she was unsure if they had a water source.

Firefighters were called to assist and provide oxygen tanks to enter the house and clear it of debris to get to the animals, which were transported to the Fox Valley Humane Association for evaluation. Among those transported first was a litter of kittens, believed to be a few days old.

With temperatures in the high 80s and firefighters and police having to use special uniforms to enter the house, paramedics also were dispatched to make sure no one was getting overheated.

Spears said charges of abandonment and mistreatment could be filed against the property owner.

Neighbors on the block said they were unaware of the situation at the house.

"Looks like a nice house. Who would just leave it?" said Carol Stuyvenberg.

"You never know what your neighbors live like," said Diana Peterson, another resident of the neighborhood.

Spears attempted to reassure the first cats coming out of the house, saying, "It's not so bad. You're probably happy to get out of there."