Citrus County investigators said there were so many cats living inside an unattended Floral City home that their urine produced an amount of ammonia that's more than double the amount that's considered an immediate danger to life.
"You did not want to walk by this house," said resident Wenona Scott. "It was so thick with the smell."
A reading of 300 parts per millions of ammonia is considered toxic, the levels inside the home were 650 ppm, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
The overwhelming smell of cat urine was so intense that a Hazmat Team had to use industrial fans to get the ammonia levels back to a normal level before the cats could be rescued.
Investigators said they removed about 30 of the 100 cats from the home located at 8980 Zanmar Drive on Thursday. Animal Control Officers plan to remove the rest of the cats on Friday.
"This is atrocious," Scott said. "It’s animal cruelty at its best."
An anonymous tip led investigators to the home. Deputies said they've opened an animal neglect investigation but no charges have been filed.