The Great Falls Police Department seized 20 cats from a downtown apartment this week.

A community member reported anonymously at the end of February about the possibility of 40 cats living in poor conditions in the basement of a residence at the corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street North, according to GFPD.

City animal control officers attempted to conduct a welfare check but didn’t receive permission to enter the residence, according to GFPD.

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Animal control, with GFPD detectives and Montana Probation and Parole officers, continued investigating and the Cascade County Attorney’s office obtained a search warrant for aggravated animal cruelty at the residence.

On March 11, GFPD officers and animal control seized 18 cats from the residence.

On March 12, animal control retrieved two more cats from the home.

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Under state statute, aggravated animal cruelty is a felony in which a person purposely or knowingly kills or inflicts cruelty to an animal with the purpose of terrifying, torturing, or mutilating the animal, or inflicts cruelty to animals on a collection, kennel, or herd of 10 or more animals.

In this case, investigators determined that the cats lacked sufficient water and the home’s sanitation wasn’t suitable for habitation, according to GFPD.

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The seized cats include a mother and her four three-week-old kittens.

All 20 cats were remanded the Great Falls Animal Shelter’s temporary housing facility.

A dog was also impounded during the investigation from a vehicle not included in the search warrant, according to GFPD.

The animals are not currently available for adoption.

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Alisa Ethridge, an animal control officer, said that the cats are friendly and appear in good health despite their living conditions.

No humans or animals were injured during the investigation, which is ongoing.

GFPD and Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki said charges hadn’t been filed yet.

Residences in Great Falls are limited to two cats and two dogs without a multiple animal or hobby breeder permit, under city code, which also requires dogs and cats four months and older be registered.