Neglected ‘Cannibal’ Cats Found In North Port Home: Sheriff

North Port, FL – A 60-year-old North Port man faces a long list of criminal charges after Sarasota County deputies paid a recent visit to his home.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went to Andrew Gerberich’s White Ibis Drive home on June 24 to perform a welfare check. Information provided by the North Port Fire Department led deputies to believe there were “several cats living in deplorable conditions,” an email from the agency said.

When deputies entered the home they discovered more than “several” cats inside. The conditions, authorities say, were unbearable for deputies to endure without the use of facial masks. Even with masks, officers “could only stay inside the home for a short period of time due to the odor.”

“Officers discovered cat feces, urine and garbage scattered throughout,” the email explained.

Deputies removed 26 cats from the home and recovered the remains of nine cats, “most of which were skeletal remains.”

Gerberich, the agency noted, surrendered the remaining cats to Sarasota County Animal Services “so they could receive proper medical attention.” Due to a lack of food, water and fresh air, several a few of the cats were suffering from infections, the sheriff’s office said.

“Several of the cats resorted to cannibalism for food,” the agency noted.

Investigators say Gerberich told them he collected the cats while serving as a cat rescue. He ran into financial troubles, the email said, and had become unable to care for the animals.

Financial troubles or not, Gerberich now faces 35 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 26 counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food and water, the sheriff's office said.

Gerberich was arrested Wednesday, June 29 and was being held in the Sarasota County Jail Thursday in lieu of $915,000 bond after a Thursday first appearance in court.

It is unclear if the cats seized will be made available for adoption.

Photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office