Investigators serving a search warrant for child pornography at a home near Greenacres on Wednesday made a shocking discovery — at least 50 dead cats stashed away in four freezers.

Animal investigators, called to the scene at 7:30 a.m., also seized about 30 to 35 live cats, according to Capt. Dave Walesky, a spokesman for Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.

Some of those cats were suffering from respiratory infections and other ailments, he said.

"The living conditions were not acceptable for the animals," said Walesky, indicating that investigators seized the cats because their caregiver had been jailed, but also because the animals appeared to be showing signs of neglect.

In the early afternoon, neighbors gathered outside the home, in the 5900 block of Ithaca Circle West near Greenacres, and watched as live cats in cages and frozen cat carcasses in garbage bags were carried out one by one.

One neighbor told the group that her daughter called the residence "the cat house," and another remarked how cats were always in the yard.

"They're just coming from everywhere," said neighbor Lorraine Fenner. "I had no idea there were so many in that house."

Deputies on Wednesday were searching Douglas Westcott's home as part of a child porn investigation when they made the grim discovery.

Officials haven't confirmed why so many dead cats were stored in freezers, but said it's possible that someone at the residence couldn't bear to part with the felines.

In Westcott's case, the 55-year-old man was adamant about keeping his animals, said

"He absolutely refused to surrender the cats," Walesky said.

Detectives investigating Westcott in the child porn case also seized a computer, said Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera. Westcott was taken into custody on three counts of possessing material that depicts child sexual conduct.

It was not yet clear if Westcott would face any animal-related charges, Walesky said.

Veterinarians will examine the dead cats to determine what happened to them, but also to figure out how to care for the animals that are still alive, he said.

Neighbors said the street has been overrun with cats, and lately they've seen more and more strays running around the block. Fenner, who lives four houses down from Westcott, said she and her teenage daughter are constantly amazed at how many cats are running around.

She said she has called animal control to report the stray cat problem and suspects the cats might've been coming from her neighbor's house. When she called animal control, she said an investigator came out to the neighborhood but never followed up with her.

"Now that I know the story, I am shocked." Fenner said. "All summer long, [cats] just keep showing up and running across the road. Little did I know what was happening."

Marie Jean-Pierre, a former resident of the neighborhood who was visiting friends Wednesday afternoon, said Westcott and his wife have been living in the house for at least 10 years. She said the couple is known for having a lot of cats and that children in the neighborhood often refer to it as "the cat house."

"It's crazy," Jean-Pierre said. "I knew they had a lot of cats. They said the cats were like their kids. I don't know what to say."

According to Walesky, Westcott told animal investigators that he wants his cats back and that he will fight Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control to win back custody of his animals.

That decision could be made by a judge in about a month, Walesky said.

While officials determine why Westcott was keeping the animals, Walesky said this case shows signs of animal hoarding.

Typically, people who hoard animals live with an unmanageable number of dead or live animals and can't separate themselves from them — regardless if they are dead or alive, Walesky said.

Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.

kjacobson@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6547 or Twitter @katejacobson