A criminal investigation is underway after a group of 30 cats was discovered in the woods Tuesday near Exit 31 of the Southern State Parkway.

Animal rescuer John DeBacker told News 12 the cats had been abandoned.

"I was horrified once I came upon the situation. There was no bottom to the cages, the food and water bowls were bone dry," said DeBacker.

DeBacker, alongside state police, the SPCA, animal control and other volunteers saved the cats Tuesday night.

Video of the scene shows many of those animals inside crates.

"The cages were full of poop, and there was just no food or water," said DeBacker.

DeBacker says two teenagers were biking through the Massapequa Preserve when they found the cats in the woods north of the Southern State Parkway.

"We can't have 30 cats living on the side of the Southern State Parkway in cages," said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

The cats were taken to a local shelter in Oyster Bay for care. News 12 went to the shelter Wednesday afternoon, and while there, crews met a man who says he owns the cats.

"I love them, they're my cats. I've been taking care of them for years, and I do everything I can I spend a lot of money on them," said Thomas McDermott.

McDermott says he's been living in the woods for seven days, and that he feeds the cats and gave them water every day.

He says he was devastated the animals were removed. He says he started calling shelters in the morning to look for them.

"I felt like my life was over, I was extremely upset," said McDermott.

It is not known what - if any - criminal charges will come out of this case.

"We are investigating whether the cats were abandoned, we are investigating the conditions in which they were living, we are investigating what if any food and water they were receiving," said Donnelly.

Prosecutors say they are looking into whether investigators had been to McDermott's home in the past, and whether he was told having so many cats was unsafe.

The animals are currently getting medical care. They will not be up for adoption until after the investigation is over.