METHUEN - A Chelmsford man voluntarily surrendered 30 cats to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

MSPCA police received a tip from someone who complained about a man living with at least three dozen cats, according to Officer Lesley Hampson of the MSPCA law enforcement division.

They investigated the complaint and the man, who Hampson declined to identify, agreed to let the cats be taken to the shelter at 400 Broadway Wednesday night.

"They're in good physical condition and good health, which is unusual when you have that many living together," MSPCA project coordinator Jill O'Connell said yesterday. "Their weights are good, they have nice, shiny fur. Their biggest issue is that they were just allowed to breed."

The owner started with only two cats three years ago, and they multiplied since then, Hampson said.

"It started off with two and he didn't spay and neuter them, and this is what you get," Hampson said while standing a few feet away from two of the cats huddled together in a litter box.

The police let the owner keep six cats, and they took 30.

The cats they let him have are not spayed and neutered yet, O'Connell said.

"Hopefully, (MSPCA) law enforcement is working with him to get that done," she said.

He is not facing any criminal charges.

O'Connell figures the man did not mistreat the animals because they're all healthy and well-behaved.

"They're nice cats," she said. "They're social, they're young, they're sweet and in good physical condition."

Hampson wouldn't say what the complainant told authorities about the situation.

O'Connell said having so many pets might not exactly be illegal, but it's unusual. "I would think 30 would be hard to manage," she said. The 12 females and 18 males range in age from 5 months to 2 years, except for one that's about 5 or 6, O'Connell said.

They're being spayed or neutered and are now available for adoption.

The shelter is now overflowing with cats because they had approximately 50 to 60 living there before the new ones arrived. "Thankfully, this is our slower time of year," O'Connell said. "So we definitely had some space available."

They haven't named the new cats yet, but they have placed numbered collars around their necks so they can identify them. "We will give them all names within a day or two," O'Connell said.

O'Connell welcomes anyone who is interested in adopting any of the cats to stop by and fill out an application.

The shelter will check to make sure the person is capable of caring for the cat and has approval from their landlord.

"Most importantly, we try to find the right match for the right home," O'Connell said.

The shelter charges a $105 adoption fee for cats, and it uses the money to cover the cost of having the animal spayed or neutered, vaccinated, tested for sickness, treated for fleas, as well as given a microchip, identification tag and collar.