Emergency services responding to a house fire were shocked when they found more than 100 cats inside the home of a believed hoarder.
Several crews responded to the serious blaze in Harriman, New York, but were unaware inside were several animals in need of rescue.
Many were in cages and were rushed outside by crews to avoid the deadly flames and poisonous air, while others loose in the home were able to escape.
It is currently unknown how many perished in the flames, the New York post reports.
Nearby Woodbury Animal Shelter appealed for donations as they were inundated with the now homeless animals.
They wrote on Facebook : “Last night the Woodbury Animal Shelter was called to assist in a horrible house fire.
"This was an extreme hoarding situation and there were probably close to 100 cats living in this house.
“The firefighters were absolutely amazing and rescued the cats that were living in cages in the house. These cats are now at our shelter and will all require medical care.
“Luckily many of the cats that were loose were able to escape and will be trapped soon. We are unsure at this time of how many cats perished in the fire.
“We are asking for help with supplies for these cats. We basically need food, litter and bath sized towels.”
Firefighters were seen giving oxygen to some of the cats affected by the smoke in the two -storey home.
Several people in the local community offered to help house the cats, once they were well enough to leave the shelter.
Fire crews did not say what happened to the owner of the home and the pets.
A spokesman for Monroe Fire Department said: "We were dispatched to a structure fire in the Village of Harriman.
"Crews encountered many obstacles during the duration of the fire such as extreme hoarding conditions in the structure.
"During the duration of the fire, crews were rescuing cats from the structure as well as trying to extinguished the fire in extreme hoarding conditions."
Earlier this month a man who bought a hoarder's house for £7,331 hit the jackpot when he made almost £300,000 by selling the items inside.
Alex Archbold snapped up the hoarder's paradise and its contents blind after the previous owner died in December 2020.
The antique dealer, who has been in the business from the tender age of nine, had never seen the property but has developed a knack for treasure hunting.
After taking the gamble, he realised he had stumbled upon a treasure trove full of rare and highly collectable pieces worth thousands of pounds.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Curiosity Incorporated, he said: "The person who lived here was really into fashion so there is a really good chance that some of these items may be designer.”
The businessman, from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, went on to uncover a haul of vintage Chanel clothing, Burberry boxes and Tiffany jewellery at the former piano teacher's home.
