Long Island City, New York - A well-known animal shelter owner was killed along with 100 cats in a fire in New York on Monday morning.

As reported by the New York Times, 65-year-old Christopher Arsenault tragically died while trying to save his beloved cats when the fire spread to his "Happy Cat" shelter.

Although the fire department was eventually able to bring the fire under control, it was already too late for Arsenault and around 100 cats.

The building burned to the ground.

Dogs Labrador is heartbroken when his Dalmatian siblings won't cuddle with him!

The police have now started an investigation, and arson has not been ruled out.

According to the authorities, there were around 300 cats living on the premises, some of which were able to escape the flames.

Animal welfare activists were quickly on the scene to catch the surviving animals and provide them with medical care.

John Debacker, an animal rights activist from Long Island, wrote on his Facebook page that Christopher had been "harassed" for months and speculated that the fire could possibly be linked to this.

"Despite being harassed for [months], he continued to fight for the cats," the post said. "I truly hope everyone can screenshot posts from one of the groups that has been harassing him [in case] arson is connected, and as of right now, the scene is closed off as a crime scene."

Whether there is a connection between the alleged harassment and the fire is currently unclear.