PITTSTON – A man whose house held up to 170 cats was able to hide their numbers from his family.

The cats were discovered after the man was hospitalized last week. An animal control officer initially believed there were about 70 cats in the three-story home, but learned there were actually at least twice that many.

Animal control officers and animal shelter workers wore protective suits and battled nausea as they tried to capture the cats. Feces and urine covered furniture, appliances and other surfaces.

The workers caught most of the cats and took them to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society’s shelter. But the cats had made holes in the sheetrock and another 30 to 50 remained in the walls and ceilings.

The homeowner was 62-year-old Nicholas Arkas Jr., according to the Kennebec County Registry of Deeds. Arkas died Wednesday.

Arkas’ son said he believed his father had only four or five cats at first. He declined to give his name but said he lived nearby.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard how many were there,” he said. “I don’t think he meant it to get this far, it just got out of control. He loved animals. I’m sure he cared for them as best as he could until it got out of control.”

The man said his father would meet visitors before they got to the door, and that their interactions generally took place outside his father’s house or at his own home.

“He was reluctant to leave the house. I guess he didn’t want to leave his family, his cats, behind,” he said.

The man said he also was unaware that his father’s home did not have running water.

Arkas’ daughter, other son and ex-wife live in New York, he said.

As of Thursday, 124 cats were captured. About 30 cats were euthanized because they were in such poor health.

Most of the cats were malnourished, but Roxanne Brann, director of operations at the animal shelter, said they were healthier than expected.

A dozen have been tested for feline leukemia and feline AIDS, and the results were negative, she said.

Brann said she’s hopeful that most of the cats will become healthy enough to be adopted, but that it’s not clear how long that would take.

The Kennebec Valley Humane Society is accepting donations for the cats’ vaccinations and other medical costs. The shelter can be contacted at Kennebec Valley Humane Society, Pet Haven Lane, Augusta 04330, (207) 626-3491.