A man has been caught allegedly keeping 21 cats in his car – including two dead felines – as his girlfriend was “going through a rough time”.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Haumann, made the furry animals live in squalor.
They were found severely malnourished by police, reports Need To Know.
READ MORE: Three poor dogs thrown out of van by cruel brute who then drove off as pooches chased after him
Officers were called after someone noticed the cats inside the 2004 Ford Focus.
It was parked outside a Starbucks, and they subsequently made contact with the owner.
Two dead cats were discovered among the cages, which police say were coated in waste.
The animals were taken to Pinellas County Animal Services, Florida, US, on Monday (29 September) afternoon.
Patrick was taken to Pinellas County Jail.
He faces two counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanour animal cruelty.
Clearwater Police Department said Haumann, who is believed to have been living in the car for around a month, told them that some of the cats belonged to his girlfriend, who admitted she had been “going through a rough time.”
READ MORE: Elusive great white shark spotted for first time in ‘needle in a haystack’ moment
