PAISLEY, Fla. -- Nearly 30 flea- and tick-covered cats were removed from a Lake County house that had mountains of feces and trash stacked from the floor to the ceiling, according to a charging affidavit.

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Kurt Brandli, 52, of Paisley, faces 28 counts of cruelty to animals and one count of obstructing an officer without violence.

Authorities investigating an animal cruelty case went to 42315 Pine Valley Drive and made contact with Brandli, who said he only had one cat, the affidavit said.

An officer who was 100 feet from the house said he smelled a very strong odor of cat urine coming from the home, and Brandli said that was because the cat had urinated on him, the affidavit stated.

Lake County Animal Control officers arrived, and Brandli said 30 to 40 cats were in a house next door, 42319 Pine Valley Drive. The houses are side by side and fenced off as one property, officials said.

Authorities entered the second home and found it in deplorable condition, covered in fecal matter and urine with trash stacked to the ceiling, the affidavit said.

Twenty-eight cats, all covered with ticks and fleas and many suffering from infections or growths, were removed from the home, according to the affidavit. One of the cats had lost its hair due to neglect, the affidavit said.

Branli was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail.

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