Officials Evicting Man In Catonsville Find Dozens Of Cats

Officials serving an eviction order in Baltimore County found more than 50 cats living in a small room with the man who lived there.

Police said Paul Depaula was squatting in a room in a Catonsville house in the unit block of Holmes Street for some time.

"I came here with three cats, and I rescued a colony of cats from another part of Maryland. I brought them here, which was a total of about 11 cats," Depaula said.

Depaula and his 11 cats had originally moved in three and a half years ago with a group of elderly people. The 11 cats have since turned into more than 50 -- all staying with him in his room.

"I was staying in a 10-by-10-foot room with all my cats. I had about 50 cats, 40 of them were born in the room with me," Depaula said.

The owner of the house, who declined to speak with 11 News, had Depaula evicted Friday, but officers serving the eviction weren't prepared for the overwhelming number of cats.

Baltimore County Animal Services brought the cats out one by one, and in what seemed like an endless stream, they put them on the sidewalk and walked them to a van. Officials said they hope that once they get the cats checked out and deemed healthy, they will be available for adoption.

The Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services sent a statement to 11 News, saying, "The Baltimore County Department of Health Animal Services Division was called in to assist in an animal recovery effort involving several cats found in a home. The cats will be taken to Animal Services and placed in an administrative hold while their health is evaluated and their wellbeing is determined. We are not able to confirm the number of cats at this time as the process is still ongoing."

"I had them and five cages, they were roaming around, they were all in good health, and everything was fine with them, and I was taking care of them in preparation to get out of here to take them to a farm," Depaula said.

Depaula said he hopes to get the cats back, but that will be up to the county's animal abuse team. So far, no charges have been filed.

"I was trying to get them out of there. This was the plan, to get out," Depaula said.