TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- A fire destroyed a house in Terre Haute, where more than 80 cats were living.

A passerby saw smoke coming from the attic and called the police. The house is a privately funded shelter and the owner lives next door.

In all, crews pulled 87 cats from the home.

"We are going to need some help, and if anybody can foster a few cats or something like that for us until we can do something, two or three here and there, you know, that would really help us out a lot," said Jimmie Kitchen, the homeowner.

Officials said it was a team effort to get all of the cats out of the home. Right now, they're staying at a barn in Vigo county.