ST. CHARLES COUNTY — A man from St. Charles County gruesomely killed and dismembered at least a dozen cats and kittens that he found on Craigslist, prosecutors said on Saturday.

Kaine A. Louzader, 20, of Wild Deer Lane near St. Peters, is now facing two felony charges of animal abuse. The charges are felonies, not misdemeanors, because he’s accused of torturing or mutilating cats while they were alive.

Charges were filed Friday. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said Saturday that investigators believe Louzader, who lives with his grandparents, killed at least 12 cats. He got the cats and kittens from people who were offering them for sale or for free on Craigslist, Lohmar said.

A spokeswoman said more charges are expected.

Charging documents claim that the dead cats have been turning up on or near Louzader’s street since January.