[UPDATE] HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) --June 9, 2011 7:40am

Officials have seized another 180 cats from a cat sanctuary in High Springs, bringing the total to 697 rescued felines.

The latest batch of ill and emaciated cats taken Wednesday from Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary represents the biggest case of cat hoarding the Humane Society of the United States has ever participated in.

Alachua County Animal Services director David Flagler says his agency is getting calls from people who needed to get rid of their cats and left them at Haven Acres.

He says they thought they were taking their cats to a "county club environment." Flagler says the agency is trying to give former owners a chance to get their cats back.

Haven Acres is owned by Steve and Pennie Lefkowitz.

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HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) June 8, 2011 --

Hundreds of sick cats have been removed from an overcrowded pet sanctuary in High Springs, Florida.

Authorities seized 517 cats from a north Florida sanctuary during a criminal investigation Tuesday.

The Humane Society of the United States says the rescue at Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary in High Springs is one of the largest cases the agency has ever assisted.

The investigation began about two weeks ago after an animal services worker found a dead cat in a cage and others that appeared to be sick.