The Great Outdoors? Not for Cats! 2019

Below is just a sampling of some of the horrible fates that have befallen stray, feral, and free-roaming cats. Countless others have died frightened and alone under porches or behind dumpsters, without anyone ever noticing what became of them.

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December 2019/Aiken, South Carolina: EdgefieldAdvertiser.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had bitten a resident before the animal died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Health officials reportedly referred the resident to his or her health-care provider for post-exposure treatment.

December 2019/Dedham, Massachusetts: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found frozen to a shipping container outside a restaurant. It was reportedly “bitter cold and real-feel temperatures [were] well below freezing.” An animal control officer was able to extricate the animal from the container and transported him to an adoption group, where he was found to be “very thin, dehydrated and showing the typical bumps and bruises of living outdoors which included a fractured tooth.” He was receiving treatment.

December 2019/Kannapolis, North Carolina: MyFOX8.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. She was taken to an animal adoption group, which transferred her to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d sustained “a large wound on the neck, which vets believe was caused by an animal attack, abuse by an owner, or an accident.” She was also receiving treatment for “a number of illnesses, including a respiratory infection and intestinal parasites.”

December 2019/Caroline County, Virginia: NBC12.com reported that a cat who had been fed by area residents after he or she was abandoned “by a previous tenant” had started “acting aggressively and is known to have bitten people.” The cat either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities directed anyone who may have had contact with the animal to seek post-exposure treatment.

December 2019/Waukesha, Wisconsin: FOX6Now.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found “scared, disoriented, and wandering the streets … with [a] glue trap stuck to his body.” He was taken to an animal shelter, where workers were able to remove the trap and clean his fur, and was reportedly scheduled to receive additional medical treatment.

December 2019/East Patchogue, New York: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless injured cat had been found “running in traffic” on a busy street. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. No additional details were available.

December 2019/Summerville, Georgia: TheSummervilleNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead next to a shed. A responding police officer reportedly stated that he “observed on the right side below his head in the neck area there was a little hole indicating he was possibly shot.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: CitizensVoice.com reported that a homeless cat who was being fed by a resident had attacked an out-of-state woman who was visiting a neighbor. The cat either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The woman who was attacked was receiving post-exposure treatment.

December 2019/Goshen Township, Ohio: FOX8.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with an arrow. One of his owners said that her son “heard a scratching noise from the arrow outside the garage door” before finding the animal “with the arrow through his hind leg area.” The arrow was cut “to stabilize [it] to keep it from moving too much because the hole was just gaping,” she said. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Chandler, Arizona: AZFamily.com reported that a cat who was evidently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had “vanished” one day and was missing for nearly a year before he was found badly injured with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto his leg. A good Samaritan took the cat to an animal hospital, which transferred him to a trauma center, where it was found that his leg was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated. He was returned to his owner to recover. She indicated that he “was now afraid of everything and cowering in his carrier.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating.

December 2019/Baltimore, Maryland: Baltimore.CBSLocal.com reported that two apparently homeless cats had been found “severely burned.” Both were taken to a municipal shelter. The first cat was transferred to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that she’d sustained severe chemical burns and her tail had to be amputated. It wasn’t clear whether her burns had been caused intentionally. The second cat was transferred to an adoption group for treatment. This animal’s burns were suspected to have been caused intentionally. No additional details were available.

December 2019/Danville, Virginia: Greensboro.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found in the parking lot of a business “with an arrow lodged in [his or her] side, from the right shoulder area to where it had partially exited near the left shoulder.” An employee contained the injured animal and called authorities. Responding officers transported the cat to a veterinary hospital for treatment. A reward was being offered “for information leading to the arrest and conviction [of] whoever is responsible for injuring the cat,” but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Middleton, Wisconsin: TMJ4.com reported that an extremely ill, apparently homeless kitten had been found under a car on “an empty highway” during or after a snowstorm. He was extremely thin, his eyes were caked shut with mucus from a severe respiratory infection, his fur was matted, and dead leaves were found frozen to his skin. He was taken to an animal shelter, which transferred him to an animal hospital for treatment.

December 2019/Nelson Township, Pennsylvania: TiogaPublishing.com reported that an injured, apparently homeless kitten had been found along a road. A resident took her home and raised the funds needed for veterinary treatment. One of the kitten’s eyes was reportedly “missing,” and according to the report, “[t]he vet said that when she is older, the eye socket … can be cleaned out so it will heal over.”

December 2019/Morgantown, West Virginia: WVNews.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found and taken to a veterinary hospital, where he or she bit three employees before dying or being euthanized and testing positive for rabies. The employees were receiving post-exposure treatment.

December 2019/Hogansville, Georgia: LaGrangeNews.com reported that authorities had received reports alleging that at least five cats had recently died and several more were missing in one neighborhood. A code enforcement spokesperson said, “Between two separate owners, I have had reports of a total of five cats that have first displayed signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite .… Those cats have since then died. We suspect poison but cannot prove it at this point.” Necropsies were planned to determine the cause of death. One resident reportedly said that seven cats she allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were “missing.”

December 2019/Jacksonville, North Carolina: JDNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot by a neighbor. The cat’s owner reportedly witnessed “a person walk across her property with a gun. She heard two shots fired and a short time later learned her cat was injured.” The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray reportedly “confirmed the injury was from gunshots,” according to the owner. One of the cat’s legs had to be amputated. The neighbor was charged with cruelty to animals and was “accused of maliciously maiming a domestic cat by shooting [the animal] twice with a shotgun, according to arrest warrants.”

December 2019/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: FOX43.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a woman had been found “acting weird,” according to a neighbor. The neighbor said she was helping the woman take the cat to a veterinary hospital when the animal bit her through gloves that she was wearing. The cat then scratched the other woman. The animal either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Both women were told by health authorities “to go to the emergency room right away” for post-exposure treatment.

December 2019/Merritt Island, Florida: FloridaToday.com reported that a homeless cat who had been taken in by a family died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.

December 2019/Albuquerque, New Mexico: KOB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead and cut in half. His owner said that investigators told her “that the act was done by a person.” No additional information was available.

December 2019/Sonora, California: MyMotherLode.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been missing “for several weeks when [he or she] reappeared, acting disoriented. After the cat’s health continued to decline over several days and [the animal] became paralytic, the owner contacted the Animal Control Office and the decision was made to humanely euthanize [the cat]. Two separate government labs subsequently confirmed a rabies diagnosis.” No additional details were available.

December 2019/Lansing, Michigan: WILX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “battered and bruised” and terrified after she was abused by four children. A witness said that she went outside after hearing “some commotion” and saw the children, “[a]nd one of them yelled ‘throw it in the air’ and I saw one of the other ones coming out of the neighbor’s yard with something in his hands. Next thing I know he threw a cat in the air.” She said the animal then “hit the ground on [her] side.” When she yelled at them, “[t]he group of four boys took off down the street.” The cat’s owner described her condition: “Her tongue is purple and it’s really fat and swollen. It looks like she bit her tongue a few times. She is limping on her back right leg.” The animal was reportedly scared and had been hiding since the attack. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating.

December 2019/White Township, Pennsylvania: RochesterFirst.com reported that authorities had responded after a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been “shot in the neck with what looked like a BB Gun. The cat died several hours later as a result of the injuries.” No additional information was available, and no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Alpharetta, Georgia: NorthFulton.com reported that police had received a report about an apparently homeless cat who was aggressively chasing employees and guests in the parking lot of a business. Responding officers sprayed the animal with pepper spray. The cat then “manage[d] to escape into the storm drain.” A spokesperson for the police department reportedly said, “Since we had an officer bit and injured by a feral cat earlier this year, they [had] planned to temporarily stun the cat with pepper spray while waiting for animal control or a catchpole to be delivered and safely remove it from the area.” Despite a search, the injured animal wasn’t found.

December 2019/Albuquerque, New Mexico: KRQE.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found in a resident’s yard. The animal was “extremely thin, in bad shape and living in an abandoned chicken coop.” She was taken to a public animal shelter. Three days later, the resident found the cat in her yard again with the fur on her stomach shaved and one of her ears “tipped.” Public records showed that she weighed just 5 pounds when admitted to the city shelter. She was put under anesthesia, and it was determined that she’d been previously spayed. She was then abandoned by the city at the resident’s property. When the resident found the cat again, she rushed the animal to a veterinary hospital, where the cat was “immediately euthanized” because her condition was so grave. Veterinary records revealed that she “weighed 4.30 pounds, was ’emaciated, severely dehydrated’, and [veterinary professionals] ‘suspected cardiovascular shock.’” The stunned resident said of the shelter’s abandonment of the severely ill animal, “The only thing I could come up with is that they really want to keep their euthanasia numbers low.”

December 2019/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: PennLive.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with an arrow. Surveillance footage captured at a nearby store reportedly showed “someone picking up the wounded cat with a shovel and putting him in a garbage can.” A resident reportedly “found the cat a short distance away from the garbage can and called the authorities.” The animal was transported to an animal adoption group, where he later died. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Bunnell, Florida: FlaglerLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a dog who had escaped his owner’s control. The cat’s owner reportedly told authorities that “he saw the dog tossing his domesticated pet cat in the air and ‘wringing the cat’s neck.’” He shot the dog with a legally owned 9 mm semi-automatic weapon. Responding officers reportedly found the dog and cat both dead on the cat owner’s property and determined that no crime had been committed.

December 2019/Kapolei, Hawaii: HawaiiNewsNow.com reported that a cat who was part of a colony of homeless cats who had been sterilized and abandoned had been found dead with a “BB gunshot wound to [the] neck.” An individual who fed the cat reportedly said, “We noticed it was laying in a pool of blood.” A witness reportedly said the animal “had been shot by a man in a black Scion and that the man had come up, watched the cat die and then he left a cigarette lying on the cat.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Rutledge, Georgia: MorganCountyCitizen.com reported that a resident had “been cited on a county ordinance that references animal cruelty after he allegedly shot and killed a neighbor’s cat with a bow and arrow.” According to the report, the cat’s owner said he’d noticed that the cat had been missing for days before his partner “told him she smelled something strange from under the house.” He said that he “finally got the nerve up and crawled under the house and found him.” The cat was found dead with an arrow through him. It had entered the animal’s back and exited through his abdomen. Authorities were called, and an investigating officer found “a bow case with an arrow sticking out of it that matched the arrow found in the deceased cat” at the suspect’s house.

December 2019/Boise, Idaho: IdahoNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision hadn’t been seen for a couple of days before she was found partially paralyzed, dragging herself through the snow. Her owner said, “She had snow on her fur still and it looked like she had drug [sic] herself for a while.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that she’d been shot with a BB gun. Two BBs were lodged in her body—one in her leg and another near her spine, causing the paralysis. She had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Antioch, Tennessee: NewsChannel5.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the eye with a BB gun. His owner said “she found him around midnight, writhing in pain” at the home. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the hospital’s owner said, “We take a lot of X-rays and [it’s] common to see pellets in the animal.” The cat’s damaged eye had to be surgically removed. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

December 2019/Green Bay, Wisconsin: WeAreGreenBay.com reported that authorities had found an injured, apparently homeless kitten. She was taken to an animal shelter, where a spokesperson said, “The skin around her mouth was torn off, and she was suffering from a nerve injury in her right leg, which also caused damage to her paw from having to drag it on the ground.” The kitten received medical treatment, including the amputation of the injured leg. It wasn’t known what had caused the injuries.

December 2019/Chesapeake, Virginia: WTKR.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found ill or injured in a resident’s yard. The animal died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.

December 2019/Long Island, New York: ABC13.com reported that a man was “facing four counts of aggravated animal cruelty” after the mutilated remains of an unspecified number of cats and kittens had been found in the trash chute of a building in which he was apparently living. The report said it wasn’t known where the animals had come from, but they weren’t owned by the accused. The animals were reportedly found “wrapped in duct tape, cardboard boxes and sheets. Investigators said the kittens and cats died from blunt force trauma.” Jed Painter with the Animal Crimes Unit in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, said, “These cats were badly mutilated, these cats were tortured by some means …. We had multiple broken bones. In fact, one of the animals, pretty much every single bone in the body was broken.” No additional information was available.

November 2019/Belgrade, Montana: KRTV.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on a resident’s porch dragging his rear legs. Authorities were apparently called and transported him to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he had “some pretty open wounds that looked like he was tied up or trapped on his back legs.” The wounds were infected. One of his legs was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated, and it was possible that a second leg would need to be removed. He was receiving treatment.

November 2019/Las Cruces, New Mexico: LCSun-News.com reported that a homeless cat who was frequently seen roaming a neighborhood had been found critically injured with an arrow through his or her body. Authorities were called and transported the cat to a public animal adoption group, where the animal had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Salem, New Hampshire: InDepthNH.org reported that a homeless kitten found in Danville had been taken to an animal adoption group. After exhibiting signs of rabies, he or she was apparently euthanized and tested positive for the virus. The kitten had been made “available to visitors” for a day, and health department officials were contacting those who had been exposed.

November 2019/Las Cruces, New Mexico: LCSun-News.com reported that a cat who had been adopted after he’d apparently been sterilized and abandoned outdoors had been found injured “after being shot by a pellet gun—four times in the back of the head, and once in the trachea.” He was reportedly found by a yard maintenance worker “crying, with a meow that sounded like a moo. And because of the injury to his airway, [he] was retaining air and growing in size.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian reportedly told the owners that “the cat had also likely been tortured, as he had lacerations throughout his body.” He had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

November, 2019/Suitland, Maryland: WUSA9.com reported that authorities had been called after surveillance footage captured the fatal mauling of a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision by one or both of two dogs, who were also roaming. One of the dogs was shot by a responding officer before being taken to a veterinary hospital. The second dog was captured and transported to a public animal shelter.

November 2019/Columbia City, Oregon: KGW.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “struggling to get up the front steps” of his family’s home. “I thought he got hit by a car because his legs were flattened,” his owner said. “There was mud all over his back.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he’d been shot with a pellet gun and a pellet had lodged “in or near the spine.” His prognosis was described as “unclear.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. KPTV.com later reported that “because he was not showing progress, including not being able to go off pain medication,” stand, or relieve himself, he was euthanized.

November 2019/Holden, Massachusetts: TheLandmark.com reported that authorities had been told that an apparently homeless cat had been found. He or she was described as “sick and skinny.” No additional details were available.

November 2019/New Castle, Delaware: DoverPost.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. She was taken to a public animal adoption facility, where it was determined that she’d been shot with a pellet gun. She received treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. No additional details were available.

November 2019/Idaho Springs, Colorado: KDVR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot to death. The animal reportedly “used to pester the neighbors’ dogs,” according to a resident. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Birmingham, Michigan: WXYZ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Five residents, including a child, were exposed to the virus. No additional details were available.

November 2019/Otter Tail County, Minnesota: WillmarRadio.com reported that a kitten who apparently lived outside on a farm had been attacked by a wild animal. The owner said that she saw the attack and then noticed that the kitten had sustained bite wounds. According to the report, “A few weeks later, the kitten attacked the farm owner, her 4-year-old son, and her pregnant sister.” The kitten was reportedly euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The Board of Animal Health was “investigating to determine the extent other animals on the farm have been exposed to rabies. Those animals include two rabies-vaccinated dogs, nine unvaccinated cats … cattle, and a horse. The Minnesota Department of Health conducted a separate human exposure investigation and determined up to five people may have been exposed and should see a medical provider for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).”

November 2019/Bellingham, Washington: BellinghamHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had apparently been abducted and thrown into a trash receptacle. Neighbors of the cat’s owner reported seeing a man riding a bicycle down an alley. He then “took something out of his backpack and threw it into a garbage can.” The cat was found unresponsive in the receptacle. He was taken to a veterinary hospital and found to have “a low body temperature” but no serious injuries. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Ukiah, California: UkiahDailyJournal.com reported that a resident had called the Ukiah Police Department to report that an injured cat had been found. A responding officer took the animal to a shelter. No additional information was available.

November 2019/Mount Sinai, New York: NewYork.CBSLocal.com reported that authorities had arrested an elderly man after he allegedly shot three of his neighbor’s cats with a pellet gun. The cats’ owner said that he “noticed one of his cats was walking with a limp and took [the animal] to the veterinarian. The vet said the cat had been shot with a pellet gun, and the cat had to be euthanized because of [the] injuries.” The owner then “noticed two of his other cats were limping and a vet determined they had also been shot with a pellet gun.” The surviving cats were receiving treatment. The neighbor was charged with three counts of cruelty to animals.

November 2019/Georgetown, Texas: Megaphone.Southwestern.edu reported that a homeless cat who reportedly “lived underneath the porch” of a shop on a college campus had been attacked and killed by a dog who was being walked without a leash. The dog reportedly grabbed the cat and “took her to the lacrosse field. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, but died on the drive over.”

November 2019/Moses Lake, Washington: ColumbiaBasinHerald.com reported that two homeless kittens had been found “starving and filthy” at a homeless camp. They were picked up by a resident, who contacted local animal shelters but was told that they were full and wouldn’t accept them. One kitten reportedly died because of a lack of needed medical care. The other was still alive at the time of the report.

November 2019/Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington.WickedLocal.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured after possibly being hit by a car. He or she was reportedly “taken to the closest veterinarian by a resident.” Authorities were notified. No additional information was available.

November 2019/Miami, Florida: Local10.com reported that three homeless cats had been found dead at a condominium complex. It was suspected that they had been poisoned. Surviving cats captured in a publicly funded program that sterilizes and abandons homeless cats were found with “black smudges around their nose and mouth, which is what all those cats that were found dead had as well, so they are in the process of dying,” according to a program spokesperson. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Preston County, West Virginia: WDTV.com reported that a resident had been arrested after he allegedly killed a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision by crushing him or her with a cinderblock. A neighbor reportedly said that the suspect’s wife regularly fed the animal along with others who roamed the area. During an argument with her, the suspect allegedly threw a cinderblock onto the kitten. He was charged with “malicious killing of an animal.”

November 2019/Alameda County, California: KRON4.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found stuck on a glue trap that had apparently been set out to kill rodents. Authorities were called and were able to free him from the trap using vegetable oil. He was taken to an animal shelter to recover.

November 2019/Boise, Idaho: KTVB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. His owner said that he heard the cat meow at the back door and that it was “not a normal meow.” The animal was moving slowly and bleeding. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot with a .22-caliber weapon. He had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Ashburnham, Massachusetts: Telegram.com reported that a homeless cat had been found apparently ill or injured. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The animal reportedly “appeared to have had a recent visit to a veterinarian and was previously owned.” No additional details were available.

November 2019/North Charleston, South Carolina: ABCNews4.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked three residents before he or she died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Residents were referred to their health care providers for post-exposure treatment.

November 2019/Patterson, New York: RecordOnline.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was one of three animals who’d been found with their legs caught in steel-jaw traps. An unidentifiable dead animal and a live opossum were also found in the deadly traps. The cat was apparently released, but no additional information was available. The opossum was taken to an animal hospital. Authorities reportedly charged a New York City resident with “three counts of unauthorized use of the traps and three counts of not having the traps properly labeled” in the trapping of the opossum. The case involving the cat was referred to the city’s “municipal humane police officer.”

November 2019/Newport, Pennsylvania: ABC27.com reported that two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead in a neighborhood. It was believed that they were poisoned. Authorities said that they had received reports alleging that bowls of antifreeze had been intentionally set out in the area and that they had found corroborating evidence. Additional cats were reportedly missing. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Somerset, Kentucky: Somerset-Kentucky.com reported that a resident had been “cited for second-degree disorderly conduct” after he allegedly shot a homeless cat to death. The suspect reportedly told authorities that “he had shot the cat because he had stepped on the animal and broken [his or her] leg.” A court date was set.

November 2019/Bithlo, Florida: WESH.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found “unconscious and barely breathing” with a soup can stuck on his or her head. A resident took the animal to a fire station, where firefighters were able to cut the can off and resuscitate the animal using an oxygen mask. The resident reportedly took the kitten home.

November 2019/New York, New York: NYDailyNews.com reported that residents “believe as many as nine feral cats on the streets of Astoria were killed in recent weeks, alleging some of the animals were lured to their cruel deaths inside baited traps laced with poison.” Four cats had been found dead or dying, and five cats who had been fed in a colony were missing. A worker at a local business reportedly said that “she found [a] sick cat that died before she could get [the animal] help.” According to her, the animal tried to move but was unable to. Authorities reportedly said there was “no active investigation but said concerned citizens should file a police report if they believe a cat has been poisoned.” No suspects were identified.

November 2019/St. Simons Island, Georgia: TheBrunswickNews.com reported that a man had been arrested after he allegedly trapped a neighbor’s cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and shot the animal with a pellet gun. Authorities stopped the man’s truck and retrieved the animal alive, who was taken to a veterinary hospital. X-rays reportedly revealed three pellets embedded under the skin on the animal’s head and one embedded in his or her side. According to a police report, the man “allegedly told police it was his intention to ‘euthanize the cat,’ the report said. [He] allegedly told police he trapped the cat two days earlier, indicating that the animal annoyed him with … constant noise. He told police, ‘[the cat] hasn’t been quiet since’ he trapped [him or her].” He was charged with cruelty to animals. The cat received veterinary treatment before being returned to the owner.

November 2019/Carroll County, Maryland: WBALTV.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found “very ill and lethargic.” He or she was taken to a public animal adoption group, where the animal died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident who found the kitten required post-exposure treatment.

November 2019/Ocean View, Delaware: CoastalPoint.com reported that a homeless kitten who was one of a litter being cared for on a resident’s property had been found injured. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that the animal was exhibiting symptoms of rabies. The animal was apparently euthanized before testing positive for the virus, and the resident required post-exposure treatment. Authorities trapped and euthanized the other kittens in the litter. No information was available about the animals’ mother.

November 2019/Yorktown, New York: DailyVoice.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. The dog’s owner was reportedly arrested “on a criminal summons with charges for allowing a dog to run at large.”

November 2019/DeBary, Florida: FOX35Orlando.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said that she witnessed the attack and tried to stop it by using water from a hose, but the cat did not survive. Authorities were notified and reportedly issued a citation to the dog’s owner.

November 2019/Commercial Township, New Jersey: NJ1015.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with a blow dart in his body. He was taken to an animal adoption group for medical treatment. According to the report, volunteers with the group said that “[a]n x-ray found evidence of past injuries, including a BB pellet in his right leg, old fractures in his rib cage and a herniated diaphragm that’s most often the result of blunt trauma, such as being hit by a car.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

November 2019/Hagerstown, Maryland: Baltimore.CBSLocal.com reported that a man had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after a witness reported seeing him chasing an apparently homeless kitten, “grabbing [him or her] by [the] neck, placing [the animal] on the ground and … sto[m]ping [the animal] to death.” He reportedly “then threw the kitten into a community dumpster.” The body was recovered, and a necropsy was conducted. The abuse was reportedly captured on film. HeraldMailMedia.com reported that a witness said that the suspect was seen “pick[ing] the cat up from a flower bed before walking [with the animal] down the street and killing [him or her].” An implanted microchip revealed that the animal had been adopted from a publicly funded animal shelter doing business as the Humane Society of Washington County just days before he or she was killed. The adopter’s name was not available.

November 2019/Greer, South Carolina: GreenvilleOnline.com reported that five residents had been exposed to rabies after coming into contact with a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. The animal either died or was euthanized before testing positive for the virus. The residents were “advised to see their doctors.” No additional details were available.

October 2019/Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: WSOCTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had exposed a dog and two humans to rabies before he or she either died or was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. No additional details were available.

October 2019/Augusta, Georgia: WRDW.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found partially paralyzed. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that “fragments of a pellet” had lodged near his spine. His owner said that he’d be permanently paralyzed and unable to walk. She claimed to have witnessed the shooting. Authorities investigated, but no suspects were identified.

October 2019/Ladson, South Carolina: Live5News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said that by the time he looked outside, she was already dead: “I saw a lot of blood, and I saw them playing tug of war with her body,” he said. Authorities were called, and during the wait for a response, the owner said that the dogs “just stayed here ripping her apart for about an hour.” The dogs were impounded, and their owner was reportedly issued six citations. A court date was set. 

October 2019/Little Rock, Arkansas: THV11.com reported that a homeless cat who had been found “dumped and allegedly shot” had been taken to an animal adoption group. She was reportedly paralyzed “from the waist down … due to bullet fragments in her spine” but “was able to get away” and was missing. A “diaper” that she had been forced to wear had been found lying a yard. The group was asking for the public’s help to find her.

October 2019/San Marcos, Texas: KVUE.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with an arrow through her leg by an animal patrol officer. She was taken to a public animal adoption group, where X-rays revealed that the arrow had broken her femur and her leg was amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. SanMarcosRecord.com later reported that the cat had died “from complications of an infection.”

October 2019/Clay County, Florida: ActionNewsJAX.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. A witness to the aftermath of one of the attacks said the skull of one of the cats “was crushed half way …. It was crushed so much the eyes popped out.” Authorities investigated and deemed the dogs dangerous.

October 2019/Manassas Park, Virginia: InsideNOVA.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had been found with an injured leg had bitten or scratched a resident. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities were asking anyone who had contact with the animal to call the health district.

October 2019/Mishawaka, Indiana: WSBT.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured. She was taken to an animal adoption group, where X-rays revealed that she’d been shot. Seven BB pellets were reportedly lodged in her leg, which was so badly fractured that it had to be amputated. One of her eyes was “gushing blood” and was also removed. A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that “they aren’t sure when or even where the cat was shot.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

October 2019/Mobile, Alabama: AL.com reported that cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors in one neighborhood had been attacked and injured or killed by dogs, who were also roaming without supervision. The report said that the attacks had been happening for 15 years and that “[s]ome locals estimate the number of pets and stray cats killed by dogs to be in the hundreds.” The owner of one cat, who had been adopted from an animal shelter, said she “heard his screams,” which were so loud that they woke her up. She went outside and found him injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, “but he was so badly mauled and his internal injuries so severe that the most humane thing was to euthanize him,” she said. Another cat survived an attack, but his or her “face was partially crushed by a stray dog.” Another resident saw dogs attacking his cat. He chased the dogs, and “they dropped his severely mangled cat,” who died two hours later. A resident who fed colonies of homeless cats in the neighborhood said one of them had “dropped from 14 to six cats because of dog attacks, while another nearby group that once contained up to 40 cats is now down to seven adults and four kittens.” She said that she witnessed most of the attacks. City officials were looking into the matter. 

October 2019/Fresno, California: VisaliaTimesDelta.com reported that a cat described as living “outside on a farm” had started to act “strangely” before biting the farm owner. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The owner required post-exposure treatment. It was the first case of feline rabies in the county since 1943. 

October 2019/Toms Brook, Virginia: NVDaily.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked a resident. He or she was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

October 2019/Waterville, Maine: 92Moose.fm reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found with his leg caught in a trap designed to kill mice. He was taken to a veterinary hospital where it was determined that “his whole leg [needed to be] amputated due to a spreading infection.” He was receiving treatment. His siblings were also found and taken to a foster home.

October 2019/Ashtabula, Ohio: News5Cleveland.com reported that authorities were investigating a report about a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and who had been found “hung from a tree.” He or she reportedly survived, but no additional details about the case were available. The report said that “some in the community speculate [the incident] may be linked to the overpopulation of feral cats,” which had been causing frustration. No suspects were identified.

October 2019/Cedar Ridge, California: MyMotherLode.com reported that “[s]ix different domestic cats have been found shot in the Cedar Ridge area of Tuolumne County” in the past two years, with the latest incident taking place just last month. The first cat who was shot was so badly injured that he or she had to be euthanized. Three cats who were shot recently had received veterinary treatment and were expected to survive. One was “still undergoing treatment for an embedded bullet in her head.” The report said that “[t]he gunman has also targeted several feral cats, which have been reported shot and killed in the same area.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

October 2019/Amherst, Virginia: NewsAdvance.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a resident had been found ill. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died before testing positive for rabies. The feeder, her husband, and the family’s dog required post-exposure treatment.

October 2019/Maine, New York: WBNG.com reported that residents were concerned about approximately 20 cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. A resident reportedly said: “They are now cannibalizing each other, roaming the neighborhood, breaking into my house, it’s just a shame to see what’s going on.” It was reported that a news crew visiting the property where the cats appeared to be coming from found “dead cats littering the lawn and several live ones roaming the property.” Authorities reportedly said that the property owner was working with an adoption group to get the animals to a shelter.

October 2019/Spokane, Washington: KREM.com reported that a man said he’d seen a group of children in an alley “tormenting and kicking” a homeless cat who was fed regularly by a resident. The badly injured cat was taken to an animal adoption group, where it was determined that he had a dislocated hip and pelvis. He was receiving medical treatment. The group was asking anyone with information about the incident to contact it.

October 2019/Oil City, Pennsylvania: YourErie.com reported that a man was arrested and faced cruelty-to-animals charges for allegedly killing an apparently homeless cat by throwing him or her “against the rocks to end [the animal’s] life. He then gutted the animal and took out the organs to use as fish bait in order to catch catfish.” The report said that “[c]ourt records don’t have a specific location, but it is believed to have happened along the water’s edge.”

October 2019/Orange Park, Florida: FirstCoastNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The mother-in-law of the cat’s owner reportedly “heard a commotion outside,” and video surveillance captured the attack. According to the owner, the footage showed the cat “getting pulled up and thrown against my house …. Just seeing her trying to fight back [was] terrible.” Authorities were notified.

October 2019/Southern Pines, North Carolina: ThePilot.com posted an advertisement reporting that a cat had been found dead on a road, apparently hit by a car. Her body was moved to the side of the road.

October 2019/Pembroke Pines, Florida: Sun-Sentinel.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been “found bleeding from an injury to his left side.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was apparently determined that he’d been shot with a BB gun. He was reportedly “critically injured” and was receiving treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

October 2019/Gardner, Massachusetts: Boston25News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. His owner said, “It was gruesome, it was gruesome to see.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he’d been shot with a pellet gun. A pellet lodged in his cheek couldn’t be removed. An eye had to be surgically removed because of the damage sustained. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

October 2019/Boston, Massachusetts: WHDH.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured, “wandering the streets,” and “with his left eye dangling from the socket.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was “determined that because of the head trauma and the injured eye, he was most likely struck by a fast-moving car.” He received treatment, including the removal of the injured eye. 

October 2019/San Antonio, Texas: ExpressNews.com reported that a resident had “found a skeleton-thin cat trying to nurse her kittens under a van on the hot pavement. It was 102 degrees.” She contained the family, but the mother cat reportedly wouldn’t eat, and the kittens suffered from diarrhea. An animal adoption group was called, and the animals were taken to a veterinary hospital. According to the report: “The vet said the mother cat was missing teeth and had muscle waste from lack of food and nutrition. In fact, she was so malnourished, she couldn’t produce milk. Her kittens were starving.” They were receiving medical treatment.

October 2019/Greenville, North Carolina: WITN.com reported that three homeless kittens had been “found on the street extremely malnourished.” They were apparently taken to an animal adoption group, where it was found that they needed treatment for a flea infestation and upper respiratory and eye infections. The group said it didn’t have the funds needed for their care and was asking for donations.

October 2019/St. Cloud, Minnesota: WJON.com reported that a “Benton County jury has found a St. Cloud man not guilty of purposely trying to trap and kill his neighbor’s cat.” He had been accused of setting a body-gripping trap on his property, in which a neighbor’s cat had been caught, killing him or her. The accused had reportedly told authorities “that his neighbor’s cats were routinely let out of the house to wander the neighborhood and he previously told the neighbor he did not want her cats on his property. [He] had used live traps before to catch the cats and return them to the neighbor.” He was reportedly acquitted of two charges related to cruelty to animals and a “misdemeanor charge for not having a trapping license was dismissed prior to trial.”

October 2019/James Island, South Carolina: Live5News.com reported that residents in one neighborhood said that four cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been killed by dogs, also roaming unsupervised, in the past year. Two residents said they heard what sounded like a dogfight outside in the middle of the night and found their cat’s dead body the next day. One said, “His hind leg was totally ripped off, and his neck was broken, and he had puncture wounds on his face.” Another resident said that surveillance footage had captured three dogs fatally attacking his cat, who was under a car outdoors, in the early hours of the morning. Authorities were notified.

October 2019/Keene, New Hampshire: WMUR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “under a bush with his legs not working.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital where an “X-ray revealed a metal projectile inside the cat … that had broken into two pieces near his spine.” Authorities reportedly “said they think because of the injury, the cat might have been shot by a BB gun or pellet gun, or possibly by a low-caliber weapon.” His owner said the cat had “some weakness in his hind legs. His left leg works about 30%. His right leg is like 5%. He doesn’t have control over his bladder. It’s affecting his kidneys.” He was receiving treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

October 2019/McPherson, Kansas: KWCH.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been, “found with a leg hanging by a thread.” He was taken to an animal adoption group, which raised money to have the limb amputated. It wasn’t known how he’d been injured. 

October 2019/Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania: KDKARadio.radio.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the eye with a BB gun. His owner claimed she heard him crying outside and found him “with a little bloody eye and his eye was swollen.” She said, [T]hat’s why he was crying …. I picked him up, looked in his eye and I saw what I thought was a sharp piece of glass sticking out of his eye.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found “that glass was actually the lens of his eye that was shattered by a BB that was found in the back of his eye.” He received treatment. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

October 2019/Julian, North Carolina: Greensboro.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available. 

October 2019/Lakewood Township, New Jersey: ShoreNewsNetwork.com reported that a resident had seen an apparently homeless kitten surrounded by “a group of [young] boys.” She intervened and took the kitten, who was injured, home. After “several days,” she called an adoption group, and the kitten was taken to an animal hospital. X-rays and an examination reportedly revealed that he had sustained “a cracked rib, a hernia, and … external damage around his rectum.” His lip was also torn away from his gum. He was being treated, and authorities were investigating. 

October 2019/Siler City, North Carolina: ChathamNewsRecord.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead. He was reportedly found after “he’d been struck by a vehicle and killed, his life ending—head smashed —in the middle of the [street].”

October 2019/Syracuse, New York: Syracuse.com reported that authorities were seeking information from the public to aid an investigation into a cruelty-to-animals case involving an apparently homeless kitten who had been found the previous summer. According to the report: “The kitten’s front legs had been cut off, police said. Despite medical treatment, the kitten later died.” No suspects were identified. 

October 2019/Forest Park, Ohio: FOX19.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found “dragging himself down” a street. He was taken to an adoption group, which transferred him to a veterinary hospital, where he was diagnosed with partial paralysis. It wasn’t known what caused his injuries. He was being treated, but “could end up needing surgery or a wheelchair or a brace.” 

October 2019/Baldwin Borough, Pennsylvania: WTAE.com reported that a homeless cat had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.

October 2019/Harris County, Texas: KHOU.com reported that a resident had been charged with cruelty to animals after surveillance footage allegedly showed him abusing a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. He could reportedly be seen “picking up the cat and violently throwing [the animal] into an apartment pool … [and] repeatedly [hitting] the cat in the head with a shoe and his hands as the cat tried to get out of the pool. He was later seen holding the cat under water.” Authorities reportedly said that he could then be seen leaving “the pool area holding the cat who appeared to be either unconscious or dead.” No additional details were available.

September 2019/Cedarville, New Jersey: TheDailyJournal.com reported that a homeless cat had been found trapped inside a receptacle at a garbage center. An animal adoption group was called and found the cat, who was reportedly described in the following way: “Her back feet were bloody and her claws were all split and broken from trying to free herself from the dumpster for who knows how long.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that she’d been shot in the head with a BB gun and that a pellet remained lodged in her skull. She was being treated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

September 2019/Jacksonville, Florida: ActionNewsJax.com reported that residents of a condominium complex had received anonymous letters from someone who threatened to set out poison to target “stray cats” in the complex. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

September 2019/Louisville, Kentucky: WAVE3.com reported that a container of suspected antifreeze had been found at a construction site where “people have been feeding … community cats” and a homeless dog. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

September 2019/Chesapeake, Virginia: WTKR.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had “confronted” a dog and his or her guardian while they were walking. The cat either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. It wasn’t reported whether the walkers had been exposed to the virus. 

September 2019/Fallsburg, New York: MidHudsonNews.com reported that a homeless kitten bit a resident. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities were investigating to determine whether more people were exposed to the virus. 

September 2019/Farmington, New Mexico: Daily-Times.com reported that a man was “accused of animal cruelty after he allegedly threw a kitten against a rock …. The white and gray kitten was later euthanized due to injuries [he or she] sustained—including a possible broken spine.” The man was also “accused of having thrown the same cat across a road during an earlier incident, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.” A responding deputy reportedly found the animal “barely alive” and “observed [that] the kitten appeared to be ‘contorted,’ and blood was coming from [his or her] nose.” The suspect was charged with cruelty to animals.

September 2019/Belen, New Mexico: KOB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found partially paralyzed after he was evidently shot in the spine with a pellet gun. His owner was reportedly trying to raise the funds needed to have him treated at a veterinary hospital. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.   

September 2019/Topeka, Kansas: KSNT.com reported that a state trooper had found an injured kitten in a roadway. He took the animal to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

September 2019/Boise, Idaho: KIVITV.com reported that a homeless, malnourished kitten had been found with a ruptured eye. She was reportedly captured and taken to a foster home, where she was to receive medical treatment.

September 2019/Loveland, Colorado: ReporterHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “dragging herself up the sidewalk. She had a big hump on her back and could barely walk.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that she’d been “shot with a hollow-point pellet.” The projectile reportedly shattered her leg and hip in three places. She required surgery, including the placement of two plates and 12 screws into her hip, and was to be kept from walking for six to eight weeks. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

September 2019/Port St. John, Florida: BrevardTimes.com reported that two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Responding to a report, deputies reportedly found two pit bulls attacking a cat: “Each dog had part of the cat in their mouths and were violently shaking the feline.” The report said that a “deputy attempted to separate the dogs by blowing his horn and eventually by striking one of the dogs. Each time the dog was struck, [he or she] would briefly disengage, turn [his or her] attention toward the deputy, then return to attacking the cat. A second deputy used his air horn in an attempt to scare the dogs, however, none of the tactics worked as the dogs continued to aggressively attack the cat.” The dogs were eventually shot. They survived and were contained by their owner. The cat who was attacked “ran off into a wooded area and has not been located.” A second cat, who had been attacked by the dogs earlier, was found dead. Authorities were investigating. 

September 2019/Pampa, Texas: NewsChannel10.com reported that a homeless kitten died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities reported that “[t]he kitten had siblings that have not been recovered from that area.” They were asking residents to call animal services if they saw any kittens in the area. 

September 2019/Red Bluff, California: RedBluffDailyNews.com reported that authorities had received a report alleging that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and injured by a neighbor’s dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. No additional information was available.

September 2019/Owyhee County, Idaho: KIVITV.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had started to act aggressively and then bitten his or her owner. The animal died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. This was reportedly the “first rabid cat detected in Idaho since 1992.” Health officials were “working to [ensure] exposed people are receiving the proper medical attention, including vaccinations. They are also working with the cat’s owners and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to be sure other potentially exposed animals on the property are managed appropriately.” 

September 2019/Middletown, Connecticut: MiddletownPress.com reported that a cat who appeared to have one of her ears tipped (an indication that she had been sterilized before she was abandoned) had been found trapped in a storm drain. Authorities reported that she had been rescued and was receiving care but was “very dehydrated.” 

September 2019/New Orleans, Louisiana: WDSU.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot six times with a pellet gun. Her owner apparently found her alive and took her to a veterinary hospital, where she died. A teenage boy was reportedly arrested in connection to the case and charged with cruelty to animals. 

September 2019/Anchorage, Alaska: KTUU.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead with a body-gripping trap around her neck. A neighbor reportedly told the cat’s owner that he was inside when “he heard a really bad cat noise.” He went outside and found the cat “dead in a conibear trap on the lawn between two properties.” Authorities were notified. 

September 2019/Cedar Falls, Iowa: WCFCourier.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot to death by a neighbor. The suspect reportedly “told police he shot the cat because [he or she] was on his property … and was meowing.” He allegedly shot the cat once with a 12-gauge shotgun. He was arrested and charged with reckless use of a firearm. The investigation was ongoing. 

September 2019/Longview, Washington: TDN.com reported that two dogs who were roaming outdoors without supervision had allegedly been loaded onto a truck and transported to an area where they were shot to death by a resident. The man told a witness that the dogs had killed his cat, who was also apparently roaming outdoors without supervision. Authorities were investigating.

September 2019/Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that two apparently homeless cats had tested positive for rabies. One of them “suddenly became aggressive and scratched two people who were feeding strays near their home.” He or she either died or was euthanized before testing positive for the virus. The second cat exposed two more residents before he or she died or was euthanized before testing positive. No additional details were available.  

September 2019/Olympia, Washington: TheOlympian.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home dragging one of his legs. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that he’d been shot and a bullet had lodged in the leg, which had to be amputated. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

September 2019/Bruceton Mills, West Virginia: WBOY.com reported that a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had allegedly had an encounter with another animal. The kitten’s owners reportedly told authorities that about two weeks later, he or she started to bite and scratch them. The kitten either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

September 2019/Orleans County, New York: WHEC.com reported that a kitten had been found injured. Authorities were called and contained the animal, who died before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available. 

September 2019/Troy, Michigan: TheOaklandPress.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had evidently been hit by a car before she was “found in the road with both sides of her pelvis broken.” She was taken to an animal adoption group, which reportedly carried out two surgeries on her. A spokesperson for the group reportedly revealed that “one piece of the broken pelvis is very out of place, placing compression on her spine and affecting her ability to have normal bowel movements on her own. She has spent quite a bit of time at the veterinarian, at times requiring enemas to help her.” 

September 2019/Melbourne, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. She was taken to an animal shelter, which transferred her to an adoption group that provided her with medical treatment to address 13 BB pellets found embedded throughout her body. According to the report, X-rays revealed that she had “a bullet in her head, several near her spine, one near her heart and lungs, and three in her front legs—one of which fractured a bone.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

September 2019/Thomasville, Georgia: TimesEnterprise.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by three dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. A local veterinarian reportedly said that “the dogs seem to be attracted to places where cat food is left out.” Authorities had reportedly set box traps in the area in an attempt to capture the dogs. It wasn’t known whether they had owners.

September 2019/Saugerties, New York: News10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had allegedly been trapped by a neighbor, who abandoned the animal “in a field several miles away.” Authorities reportedly searched the area but did not find the cat. The neighbor was charged with petit larceny. 

September 2019/Bozeman, Montana: BozemanDailyChronicle.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot with an arrow. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he or she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were investigating. No additional details were available. 

September 2019/Davidson County, North Carolina: The-Dispatch.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a resident had been found dead with an arrow through him. Authorities investigated, but no suspects were identified. 

September 2019/Albuquerque, New Mexico: KRQE.com reported that a business owner had been accused of shooting a homeless cat in the face with a rifle. Before the shooting, the suspect reportedly told employees that he didn’t want the cat in the area. He allegedly admitted to shooting the animal, who was later found injured by an employee, who took him to a veterinary hospital, which transferred him to a public animal shelter. A veterinarian who examined him said, “The bullet, one of them, entered … his little muzzle and when it went in, it destroyed his teeth and his jaw, so now he’s missing all of the right side of his bottom jaw …. He was unable to eat, unable to drink, he came in dehydrated, and suffering and in a lot of pain.” The cat was being treated. The suspect reportedly “faces multiple charges including a felony count of extreme cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor of negligent use of a deadly weapon.”

September 2019/Grand Traverse County, Michigan: UpNorthLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home “bleeding near her chin and nose and could barely open her eye.” The next day, she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d been shot. The owner said that “a pellet was found above [her] eyebrow and she had to undergo surgery.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

September 2019/Morgantown, West Virginia: WBOY.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked two residents. After attacking the second resident, the cat was reportedly “killed with a pellet gun by a family member,” and his or her body was taken to the health department. The animal tested positive for rabies. The two residents had to undergo post-exposure treatment. After the attacks, the cat was seen interacting with a colony of homeless cats who were apparently being fed in the area. Authorities were working to collect the animals so that they could be quarantined or euthanized in accordance with state laws.

September 2019/Louisville, Kentucky: WAVE3.com reported that a homeless cat who had evidently been sterilized and abandoned in a trap-neuter-reabandon program had been thrown from the window of a vehicle on a highway. A witness said she saw the animal “thrashing around in the air” then “bouncing all over the place” on the road. She said, ​”The car had to have been going at least between 70 and 80 miles per hour. The moment that cat left the window, they sped off.” Another individual reportedly found the cat dead on the side of the road. His or her ear had been tipped, indicating that the animal had been sterilized and intentionally abandoned. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Darby, Pennsylvania: 6ABC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found severely injured. A witness reportedly “saw a boy holding the cat by [the] neck and shaking [him].” The injured cat was found under a neighbor’s deck before he died. One of his owners said, “He looked like he was dying. He was just blinking and he was looking like ‘Mom. Where were you?’” The owners suspected a group of children. Authorities were investigating.

August 2019/Palm City, Florida: WPBF.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found in Warrensburg, Missouri, “paralyzed in the hind quarters” after evidently being shot multiple times with a BB gun. He was taken to an animal adoption group, which transferred him to a self-professed “rescue” in Florida, where he would reportedly “need extra care with specialists for the rest of his life, possibly special food, therapy, medication, or potential surgeries.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Marshfield, Massachusetts: WBZNewsRadio.iHeart.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home injured. His owner said he cried, “looked really weird, [and] was walking funny.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he had been shot and required surgery. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Lincoln County, Montana: TheWesternNews.com reported that authorities had received a call from a resident who reported “‘another sick cat’ in the alley.” Another resident called authorities and “claimed his neighbor just shot his cat. He said his neighbor denied it, but that he was walking around with a gun.” No additional information was available. 

August 2019/Graham, North Carolina: WFMYNews2.com reported that an apparently ill, homeless cat had been found at a residence. The animal either died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Two people who were exposed to the virus required post-exposure treatment, and an unspecified number of vaccinated animals had to receive booster vaccines and be quarantined for 45 days.

August 2019/Des Moines, Iowa: KCCI.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died after his owner found him “barely breathing under a bush.” The owner said, “His body was just completely limp, and that’s when I knew that something was terribly wrong.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot with a pellet gun. The projectile had “gone right through him, around his lung area, and his insides had filled with blood,” according to the owner. Authorities were apparently investigating, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Akron, Ohio: FOX8.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home injured. Sometime after he was let indoors, his owner followed a trail of blood through the house and found him “bleeding out his side.” She said, “[I]t looked pretty bad. He was missing some fur; it looked like a good-sized hole.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot twice. He had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Bosque County, Texas: KWTX.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been shot by a man, who filmed the attack. The video footage reportedly showed the cat in a tree before he or she was shot with a shotgun. The animal then fell “to the ground, appearing to be bloody and wounded, then defend[ed] [him- or herself] against a looming large dog as the video cuts out.” After the video was seen on social media, authorities were alerted and began an investigation. The individual was reportedly cooperating and “brought the body of the deceased animal—which he’d thrown in the trash” to the sheriff’s office. The case was to be “presented to a grand jury to decide if charges should be filed.”

August 2019/Lehigh County, Pennsylvania: LehighValleyLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead by a passerby. The animal had been shot, stuffed into a bucket, and thrown into a canal. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

August 2019/Fayette County, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals after he shot a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. Authorities reportedly said that the suspect had “admitted using a .22-caliber rifle to shoot a black cat [who] was in his yard.” He reportedly told authorities that “he had issues with cats urinating on his back porch.” A court date was set.

August 2019/Jonesboro, Arkansas: KAIT8.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Witnesses reportedly saw the dogs attack the cat and said one of them “would not release the cat.” The dogs’ owner was cited.

August 2019/Louisa County, Virginia: NBC12.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said, “Just hearing the screams; it was not nice at all.” The dog had allegedly been seen chasing the cat on at least two occasions before the day that the cat was mauled to death. Authorities were investigating.

August 2019/Stillwater, Oklahoma: STWNewsPress.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found injured. He was taken to an animal hospital, where it was found that one of his legs “was dead and needed to be amputated.” A spokesperson for an adoption group that was paying for his treatment said, “He also had some scarring on his left eye, so he must have had an old infection.”

August 2019/North Charleston, South Carolina: ABCNews4.com reported that four homeless kittens had sustained lacerations when they were accidentally injured by a resident who was using a weed wacker. They were taken to an animal adoption group, which provided them with treatment. One of them was reportedly in critical condition and had sustained a broken leg that might need to be amputated.

August 2019/Fountain, Colorado: KKTV.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals after he allegedly put out bait laced with antifreeze, apparently to poison animals. A cat who was reportedly “part of a group of strays [who] live in the area” had been found ill and was taken to an adoption group, which had to euthanize him or her “due to organ failure because of the poison.” A court date was set. 

August 2019/Milwaukee, Wisconsin: TMJ4.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured and “wandering in the streets.” She was taken to an animal adoption group, which found that small metal bracelets had been placed around her neck. According to the adoption group, “Eventually, the bracelets were caught around her jaw and caused ‘terrible, bug-infested wounds.’” She received medical care and had been recovering for approximately three weeks “but still has a long road to recovery.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were contacted.

August 2019/Tallahassee, Florida: WCTV.tv reported that an animal adoption group had received a report alleging that “two cats … had been killed by construction equipment” at a building site. The group had reportedly removed 10 cats from the area and was working to ensure that none remained.  

August 2019/Stephentown, New York: TimesUnion.com reported that a cat who had been abandoned at a farm had bitten a human. A second individual reportedly “came in contact with the cat.” The animal was apparently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The two people required post-exposure treatment. According to the report, “A veterinarian checked and cleared the large animals and four other cats at the farm.” Authorities advised individuals who may have had contact with the cat before he or she was abandoned at the farm to “contact the county Health Department or see a doctor.” 

August 2019/Tilden Township, Pennsylvania: PottsMerc.com reported that a man and his son had been charged with cruelty to animals after a resident called authorities to report having seen a kitten be thrown out of their moving car. According to a criminal complaint, the resident “said an occupant threw a kitten out the passenger [window] while the car was moving. The cat landed on the road. … The resident got in his vehicle, followed the car and took a photo of the license plate. He made contact with the driver and asked him why he threw the cat out the window. The driver replied, ‘Since you have a farm I thought you can use another cat.’” A state trooper reportedly traced the license plate to a person named Allen Heckman and went to his residence. When asked why he threw an animal from a car window, he reportedly “said he didn’t want the cat, a stray [who] ended up on his property.” His son reportedly admitted to throwing the kitten from the vehicle while his father drove. It wasn’t reported whether the kitten had been found or survived. 

August 2019/LaGrange, Indiana: KPCNews.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found exhibiting symptoms of a neurological condition. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an examination reportedly “found few clues to the kitten’s unusual behavior.” He was transferred to an animal adoption group, whose spokesperson said, “He was very lethargic, he wouldn’t even lift his head up ….” After some time, it was found that he was also blind, and it was suspected that he had “suffered some sort of neurological injury, maybe a sharp blow to the back of his head that caused him to lose his sight.” He was sent to a foster home. 

August 2019/Athens, Alabama: ENewsCourier.com reported that a homeless cat and her three kittens had been found in a storm drain after “someone had poured paint and paint thinner down the storm drain and onto the kittens.” One of the kittens died from exposure to the chemicals, and another “had multiple issues from the chemical exposure, including peeling skin, raw spots and matted fur.” The animals were taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment, including sedation of the mother cat, who required treatment for a flea infestation. The survivors continued treatment at a foster home. 

August 2019/Roosevelt County, New Mexico: ABC7Amarillo.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found suffering from “weakness in the hind legs.” He or she bit a resident and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident received post-exposure treatment.  

August 2019/Moore County, North Carolina: ThePilot.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked and bitten a child and scratched the child’s mother when she intervened. According to the report, “Shortly after being captured by animal control officers, the cat ‘began to exhibit signs of distress’ and died, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The animal later tested positive for rabies.” The mother and child both required post-exposure treatment.

August 2019/Goldsboro, North Carolina: GoldsboroDailyNews.com reported that authorities had received a report from a worker at a business where three homeless cats were fed. The worker said that one of the cats had been killed and was hanging in a tree in a nearby park. No suspects were identified.

August 2019/Olympia, Washington: Chronline.com reported that the body of a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found cut in half on a street. Another cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead in a resident’s yard in Lacey. This cat appeared to have been cut open, and his or her organs had been removed. Both bodies were being sent to the University of Washington to determine a cause of death. No suspects were identified. 

August 2019/Lynchburg, Virginia: WSET.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found in tall grass in a resident’s yard. After accidentally running over him with a lawnmower, the resident took the badly injured animal to an animal adoption group, which carried out emergency surgery. It was later reported that the kitten had died, evidently alone in a cage there.

August 2019/Pleasantville, Pennsylvania: WJACTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found “severely injured and covered in paintball markings” in the parking lot of a business. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional details were available.

August 2019/Jacksonville, North Carolina: WCTI12.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked three children in the parking lot of a bowling alley. The father of the third child who was attacked reportedly “kicked the cat until [he or she] let go of the boy.” The animal later died and tested positive for rabies. The three children required post-exposure treatment. The owner of the bowling alley was working with authorities to capture other homeless cats in the area.

August 2019/Laceyville, Pennsylvania: PAHomepage.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a resident had been found injured. He was taken to an animal adoption group, which found infected gunshot entrance and exit wounds. He received veterinary treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

August 2019/Fulton, Kentucky: WPSDLocal6.com reported that approximately 10 homeless cats who were fed by some area residents had been shot to death. Photos showed one cat who had been shot fatally through the neck “with what appeared to be a high-powered pellet gun” and bloodstains next to an opened can of cat food. According to the report, “Fulton police handed the investigation over to Kentucky State Police. Fulton Police Chief Terry Powell said a Fulton officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay, because of the investigation.” No additional details were available. 

August 2019/Orcas Island, Washington: SanJuanIslander.com reported that a cat who was apparently homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. According to the report, “The person in charge of the dog at the time of the incident was charged with allowing [him or her] to kill a domestic animal.” No additional details were available. 

August 2019/Everett, Washington: KIRO7.com reported that authorities were advising residents to keep cats indoors after the dismembered remains of five cats had been found in a neighborhood. The report said, “In a telephone interview, Everett’s Deputy Police Chief says a necropsy revealed the culprit is probably not another animal.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Fort Collins, Colorado: OutbreakNewsToday.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found near a university campus. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Health authorities believed that humans may have been exposed to the virus and were asking anyone who may have had contact with the cat to contact their health care provider or the department of health. No additional details were available.

August 2019/Champion Township, Ohio: WKBN.com reported that a man had been arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing an apparently homeless cat. A witness to the shooting called authorities. A police spokesperson reportedly “said the cat had been shot in the neck by a small-caliber bullet. [The animal] was [found] dead, but the caller told police that [he or she] was twitching and still alive before the officer arrived.” The suspect reportedly “complain[ed] about people feeding stray animals nearby, saying, ‘Someone needs to do something about these cats. They are p***ing in my flower beds and s***ing on my driveway,’ according to a police report.” He was arrested and charged “with discharging firearms in a prohibited area … [and] prohibitions concerning companion animals.”

August 2019/Detroit, Michigan: WindsorStar.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had wandered into an emergency room at a hospital and begun meowing at the security desk. An employee took the cat home and, the next day, took him to a veterinary hospital, where it was discovered that “he had an infected, ‘dime-sized hole’ in his tail that the vet suspected came from the pellet of a BB gun.” He reportedly “could have lost his tail or died if the infection had spread.” According to a post on the hospital’s website, he had likely come into the facility seeking shelter from the cold and rain outside. He was reportedly “skinny,” and his fur was wet and matted to the wound on his tail. He received treatment and was adopted.

August 2019/Gretna, Louisiana: WWLTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said she was inside the home when she heard “a banging noise like meowing and growling” and went outside to see two dogs attacking the cat. She fought them off, but the cat died. Authorities were notified and were able to identify the dogs’ owner, who was “issued a dog-at-large citation.” 

August 2019/Carter County, Tennessee: WCYB.com reported that Ryan Garland had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly abusing a kitten who was apparently one of a litter living under his trailer. Authorities were reportedly “told that Garland made several statements about ‘resolving the issues’” regarding the kittens. A witness reportedly “said she found the kitten wrapped up in a towel on Garland’s bed and thought the kitten was dead” because he or she didn’t appear to be breathing. A veterinary technician reportedly “told police that it looked like the kitten’s claws had been forcibly removed and the kitten’s breathing caused her to believe the kitten was kicked or thrown against something.” The animal was taken to an animal adoption group, whose spokesperson reportedly “told police they believed Garland pulled the kitten’s claws out, tried to shave the kitten’s head, and cut off [his or her] whiskers.” A text message shown to authorities allegedly indicated that the kitten may have also ingested methadone. The kitten was transported to a veterinary hospital for assessment. A later report revealed that the hospital had treated the kitten for an opioid overdose and that the animal was in critical condition. 

August 2019/Greenville, South Carolina: FOXCarolina.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an arrow through his or her body. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Kenesaw, Nebraska: CharlotteObserver.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home with an arrow through his head. He was taken to a veterinary hospital in critical condition. A group that abandons homeless cats in the area reportedly said “that in the 48 hours leading up to the event, seven cats had gone missing in the area.” Authorities were reportedly notified, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/North Fort Myers, Florida: WINKNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by three dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. She was found paralyzed in her hind end and was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were investigating.

August 2019/Blackstone, Massachusetts: BostonGlobe.com reported that a teenager had been arrested and accused of shooting with an arrow a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. The cat had been found injured and was taken to a veterinary medical center, where he or she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries sustained. The teen was charged with cruelty to animals, among other offenses.

August 2019/Lansing, Michigan: FOX47News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found with his front and back legs tied together with zip ties. He was taken to an animal adoption group for treatment. A reward for information was being offered, but no suspects were identified.

August 2019/Denver, Colorado: 9News.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found with a ruptured eye, two puncture wounds, and a facial abscess. He was taken to an animal shelter, where one of his eyes had to be removed and he received treatment for the other injuries.

August 2019/Staten Island, New York: SILive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had gone missing. A neighbor reportedly found him two days later in a box “with a broken leg, [his] ‘legs tied together with black electricity tape,’ and [his] teeth broken.” The cat’s owner said that the day before he was found injured, “her husband saw a neighborhood boy swinging a different cat by [the] tail and hitting [the animal] before placing [him or her] in a box.” The news outlet contacted the child’s father, who reportedly “claims that the cat scratched his son’s leg, and that his son moved the cat to avoid being hurt.” The injured cat was receiving veterinary treatment, and authorities were investigating.

August 2019/Kyle, Texas: SpectrumLocalNews.com reported that a resident who started feeding two homeless cats in her yard “had to be put into a coma to survive after becoming severely ill from a flea that bit her and gave her a Rickettsial infection.” A few days after the bite, “she was admitted to the hospital for sepsis and pneumonia” and spent 10 days on a ventilator in a medically induced coma. She then went “through months of physical therapy and now has thousands of dollars in medical bills.” The cats were taken to an adoption group, which found that they tested positive for the disease and treated them for it before finding homes for them.

July 2019/San Antonio, Texas: FOX17.com reported that a teenage boy was under investigation after surveillance footage reportedly showed him “dangling a [neighbor’s] cat over three dogs at his family’s … home, riling them up before dropping the cat in a fenced-in area.” The cat was evidently killed in the attack. The bodies of two additional dead cats were also found at the property. The investigation was ongoing.

July 2019/Summerville, Georgia: TheSummervilleNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and apparently killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. According to a police report, the cat’s owner said that he saw the dogs “tossing his cat around” and that the cat then “appeared” to be dead. The animal control department was reportedly notified. No additional details were available.

July 2019/Century, Florida: PNJ.com reported that a man had been arrested after he “allegedly put a cat in a bag and shot and killed the animal with a 12-gauge shotgun.” A witness reportedly told authorities that she saw the accused put two kittens or one large cat in a bag and then “heard a shotgun blast.” According to a police report, she asked him “if he shot kittens or an adult cat, and he responded, ‘F— yeah I did.’” Investigators reportedly later found the bag in an overgrown patch of bushes. It contained a single dead black-and-white cat. The suspect was charged with cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of a dead animal.

July 2019/Center Township, Indiana: TheNewsDispatch.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said she was inside her home when she heard the cat meowing and hissing. She looked outside and saw two dogs “rip [the cat] into two pieces,” then take the body into a wooded area, according to a police report. The dogs were reportedly quarantined, and their owner “received a warning.”

July 2019/Escondido, California: NBCSanDiego.com reported that a cat named Leonard, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, had gone missing. A GPS tracker on his collar led investigators to a property where they found 10 dead cats near a locked shed. Inside the shed, authorities reportedly found “firearms, a crossbow with arrows, bats and knives. Several of the weapons had blood or fur on them when they were discovered by investigators. Prosecutors said some of the cats had their legs zip-tied to cages, some had metal BB’s and bullet fragments in them, and some cats were burned.” Leonard was reportedly not found at the property and was believed to be dead. His owner reportedly said that he believed that Leonard had been “picked up in his neighborhood and driven the more than two-mile distance to the large compound where the other cats were found.” Joshua Boyer was arrested on multiple felony counts of cruelty to animals in connection with the case.

July 2019/Granville County, North Carolina: CBS17.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. She was taken to an animal shelter, where veterinarians reportedly “noticed she had a very serious gash on her side that may have been cause[d] by an arrow.” She was transferred to an adoption group in Virginia, where a spokesperson said, “They had suspected that she was shot with an arrow and that the arrow went right down her side, opening her wide up on the entire side.” She continued, “She certainly suffered, there is no doubt about that.” The cat was reportedly undergoing surgery. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

July 2019/Hickory, North Carolina: WHKY.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional details were available.

July 2019/Capron, Virginia: WTKR.com reported that a homeless cat had scratched a resident. He or she was apparently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident was advised to seek post-exposure treatment. No additional details were available.

July 2019/Wayne Township, Pennsylvania: ErieNewsNow.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found under the owner’s home, “dead from a gunshot wound.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Coraopolis, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh.CBSLocal.com reported that health officials were asking residents to be on the lookout for “a strange-acting feral cat” and report sightings to the police department. No additional information was available.

July 2019/Upper Darby, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia.CBSLocal.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found convulsing on a resident’s lawn and another had been found behind her garage. The resident said, “It almost looked fake .… It was really, really terrifying and disturbing to see.” She said that one of them “looked like [he or she] was convulsing in some way .… And [the kitten] was panting. [He or she] was having some sort of respiratory distress.” They were taken to an animal hospital, where workers reportedly said that the kittens “could have been dehydrated, have rabies or [be] suffering from heat-related illnesses.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified.

July 2019/Scottsdale, Arizona: ABC15.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found disemboweled in a resident’s yard. He said, “It looks like somebody took a sharp knife and they just cut around the paws and up and around …. It was so gross.” A spokesperson for the police department reportedly said that the injuries were “human-caused.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Tampa, Florida: ABCActionNews.com reported that two homeless cats who were fed by a resident had been taken to a veterinary hospital after they were found injured. One of them had been found partially paralyzed. An “X-ray showed the cat’s spinal cord was severed and the fragments of [a] bullet surrounded the injured cat’s spine.” He was euthanized. The other cat underwent surgery to have metal fragments removed from his leg. It was believed that they had been shot with a high-powered air rifle. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with a badly injured leg. She was taken to an animal adoption group, where it was found that “firecrackers had been tied to her front left paw with rubber bands, likely soon after the Fourth of July, resulting in the limb becoming severely infected and infested with maggots.” A spokesperson for the group said, “There wasn’t really any paw left. What was still there was barely hanging on by the rubber bands …. Her bone was exposed and she was severely dehydrated.” The group had her leg amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Nashua, New Hampshire: UnionLeader.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home with a broken leg. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that he’d been shot. A projectile had lodged in his leg, which had been broken “into four pieces.” He required surgery. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Lincoln, Nebraska: 1011Now.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been missing for two days before he was found “limping around a shed” near his owner’s home. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove metal fragments, likely from a pellet-gun projectile, from his leg. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Yonkers, New York: LoHud.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked a resident in his yard. Authorities captured the animal, who was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The resident was undergoing post-exposure treatment.

July 2019/Roanoke County, Virginia: WDBJ7.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with an arrow through his torso. Authorities were called and transported him to an animal adoption group. He was receiving treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Golden Valley, Minnesota: FOX9.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. He was taken to an adoption group, where X-rays reportedly “revealed he had been shot, leaving him with a broken jaw and bullet fragments still lodged in his neck.” He underwent “surgery to correct his fractured jawbones and remove several broken teeth.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

July 2019/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 6ABC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on his family’s front porch injured and crying. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d “been shot four times. One of the pellets broke his shoulder bone, another was lodged near his heart.” One of his legs would reportedly have to be amputated because of the damage sustained. Anyone with information was asked to contact authorities, but no suspects were identified. 

July 2019/Hilliard, Ohio: NBC4i.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an arrow through his neck. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he was sedated overnight and underwent surgery the next day to remove the arrow. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Routt County, Colorado: SteamboatPilot.com reported that authorities had received a report stating that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the face with a BB gun “several weeks” before. During a recent veterinary examination, a BB pellet had been found lodged near the animal’s nose and was removed. No additional details were available. 

July 2019/Anderson, South Carolina: WSPA.com reported that a resident had been attacked by an apparently homeless cat. The animal was evidently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident was “told to go to the hospital.” No additional details were available. 

July 2019/Newark, New Jersey: NewJersey.News12.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found “crying in pain with a severe infection.” He was apparently taken to an adoption group, where a spokesperson said, “His jaw was all mangled. His teeth were all disfigured in his mouth.” The cat was transported to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d sustained severe trauma and also had burns in his mouth. It was suspected that the injuries may have been intentionally inflicted by a person or persons using a firecracker. He was receiving treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Weldon, North Carolina: RRDailyHerald.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had bitten three residents. Authorities captured the animal, who was having difficulty swallowing, appeared to have some paralysis, and was showing other neurological symptoms of rabies. He or she was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. Those exposed were receiving post-exposure treatment. 

July 2019/Seminole County, Florida: FOX35Orlando.com reported that a homeless cat who was described as “usually friendly” had attacked a worker at a business. Authorities were notified, and the cat was apparently contained and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The worker required post-exposure rabies treatment, and authorities were working to capture other homeless cats and take them out of the area. 

July 2019/Armstrong Township, Pennsylvania: IndianaGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “wounded by a shot of unspecified caliber.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional details were available. 

July 2019/Nevada County, California: TheUnion.com reported that authorities had received calls about three cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision who had been found ill or injured. One was found ill near a swimming pool. Another was discovered on a highway unable to use his or her rear legs. A third was found in the middle of a street, possibly dead, after being hit by a car. No additional details were available.

July 2019/Lacey, Washington: King5.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dismembered and with part of a flier attached to his or her body. The flier was from the previous year and announced a reward for information about cat killings and mutilations in the area. Authorities said that another roaming cat had been hit and killed by a car in the area the previous week. They were investigating the dismemberment, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Grand Blanc Township, Michigan: NBC25News.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed in a colony by a resident had been found badly injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment of severe diarrhea and extensive damage to his face and hind end, which was suspected to have been caused by fireworks. An animal adoption group that was paying for his treatment reported that his “whole mouth inside [and] outside is charred, there is most likely damage to his soft palate and his jaw is fractured in several places.” The report continued, “His back end is pretty nasty and [the veterinarians] are not sure if it is a combination of fecal scalding and/or intentional burns. … He either has a nasty [upper respiratory infection] as well, or those symptoms are from the damage to [the] soft palate.” He was receiving treatment. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/Lewiston, Idaho: LMTribune.com reported that authorities had arrested a man who allegedly shot an apparently homeless cat. After authorities responded to a report about gunshots, the suspect reportedly admitted that “he fired a shotgun at a feral cat.” An animal control officer found the injured animal, who was transported to a veterinarian. It wasn’t known whether the cat survived. The suspect was charged with cruelty to animals and discharging a weapon within city limits.

July 2019/Gloucester County, Virginia: WTKR.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot in the face with an arrow. Authorities were called and transported him or her to an animal shelter, where the animal was euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. It was believed that he or she had been shot at least one day before being found. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

July 2019/City of Valley Mills, Texas: EastTexasMatters.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found ill or injured. He or she evidently died before testing positive for rabies. Authorities were searching for the animal’s littermates and any other cats who may have been exposed.

July 2019/Middletown, Connecticut: Patch.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured on a road. He was taken to an animal shelter. No additional details were available.

July 2019/Tempe, Arizona: 12News.com reported that in a period of a few weeks, the Tempe Police Department had responded to nine complaints about dead cats found dismembered in a neighborhood. A resident said she found a cat cut into two pieces while walking her dog. She “said the cat’s fur was intact and that [his or her] intestines were partially showing, but there was no blood.” Residents said they believed that a human had killed and dismembered the animals, but a police department spokesperson described evidence that suggested they may have been attacked by dogs.

July 2019/Lansing, Michigan: LansingStateJournal.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been picked up and drop-kicked by a man in a public parking lot. The abuse was filmed and shared on social media. The footage showed the cat lying motionless on a sidewalk after he or she landed. Authorities reportedly later found and collected the animal’s dead body from a nearby dumpster. They were investigating.

July 2019/Carmel, New York: ABC7NY.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home with a gunshot wound. Authorities reportedly believed he “was shot by a high-powered pellet or a small-caliber bullet.” He underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments but had sustained “a broken femur bone and pelvis.” He suffered from “extreme pain” and sustained “permanent physical impairment of his hind legs.” Authorities asked anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified. 

July 2019/Tampa, Florida: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless cat described as “scared, hungry and injured” had been found “trying to climb under a police cruiser.” He or she was taken to an animal adoption group for treatment. No additional details were available. 

July 2019/Matthews, North Carolina: CharlotteObserver.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked two residents. He or she was captured and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. 

July 2019/Bakersfield, California: Bakersfield.com published an op-ed column that alleged that a cat who was described as the “garage” cat or the “Front porch” cat had been attacked by two dogs who were roaming outdoors without supervision. Neighbors who witnessed the attack reportedly said the dogs “ran up onto the front porch, caught him sleeping and mauled him, squeezing him so hard his intestines [burst] out of the protective sac, causing a massive hernia. The dogs, chased away by a neighbor, were seen during the attack by at least three people. They killed a gray cat up the street further, then disappeared.” The surviving cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died two days later. Authorities were notified. 

July 2019/Roanoke, Virginia: WSET.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found injured. He was taken to an animal adoption group, which transferred him to a veterinary hospital. An examination found that he was “not only … dehydrated and covered in fleas, but his back right leg was hanging on by a small piece of skin.” Upon further examination, his leg was found to be “completely separated from the body, exposing the femur bone.” He was being treated, and the leg would need to be amputated. It wasn’t known how he’d sustained the injuries. 

July 2019/South Huntington Township, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that a homeless cat had entered a business and attacked a worker. The cat was reportedly “quarantined in a crate and died later that day.” Tests revealed that the animal was rabid. A colony of homeless cats was reportedly fed near the business. The worker received post-exposure treatment. 

July 2019/Bay Lake Florida: WESH.com reported that an apparently ill or injured homeless cat had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities warned that other animals in the area may have been infected. ClickOrlando.com reported that two residents had been exposed to the virus when the cat scratched them.

July 2019/Millville, New Jersey: TheDailyJournal.com reported that a resident at an apartment complex had investigated “after hearing a cat screaming in pain.” She found an adult cat “with half his tail burned to a crisp and part of his back and right ear singed. She also had found a dead kitten [who] appeared to have had [his or her] neck snapped. She was told that kids in the complex had been tormenting the cats.” She took an injured male cat, a female cat, and three surviving kittens to an animal shelter. They were all infested with internal parasites, and the male cat’s tail had been burned off, leaving “about six inches of black, desiccated bone.” A veterinarian had to amputate it. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

July 2019/Mansfield, Ohio: MansfieldNewsJournal.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and injured by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. Authorities were called, and the cat was transported to an animal adoption group. Police reportedly “forwarded a copy of the report to the county dog warden’s office.”

July 2019/Ridgeland, South Carolina: IslandPacket.com reported that an apparently ill or injured homeless cat had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Five residents were potentially exposed to the virus while providing the animal with “routine care.” 

July 2019/York County, South Carolina: WISTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked a resident. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

July 2019/Georgetown, Ohio: Cincinnati.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been in a dumpster “starving [and] suffering from infections.” His teeth were reportedly in such a bad state that “they had to be removed.” He was also covered with motor oil. He was found after being “compacted inside a dump truck” with the other contents of the dumpster. He was taken to an animal adoption group, where he received treatment. 

July 2019/Madison County, Georgia: MadisonJournalToday.com reported that authorities had received a report from a resident who said she’d found a litter of kittens near a business. One of them had a wound that appeared to be the result of a gunshot to the neck. She said she planned to take the animal to a veterinary hospital. No additional details were available. 

July 2019/Strasburg, Virginia: NVDaily.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked a resident. He or she was captured and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The report explained, “This is at least the fourth case of a cat with rabies in the Northern Shenandoah Valley this year and the second one in Shenandoah County within a week.” 

July 2019/Huntington Township, Pennsylvania: Local21News.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found ill or injured, dragging his or her hind end. A resident called authorities after he was bitten by the animal. The cat was captured and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident required post-exposure treatment.  

July 2019/Kansas City, Missouri: FOX4KC.com reported that a homeless cat who appeared to be pregnant had been taken to an animal adoption group. X-rays revealed that she wasn’t pregnant but had been shot and that a bullet fragment remained lodged near her spinal cord. Veterinary staff were still determining whether it could be removed. A spokesperson for the group said it admits animals with gunshot wounds “every month at least.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

June 2019/Edinburg, Virginia: WHSV.com reported that a resident had been attacked by an apparently homeless cat. The animal was captured and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Authorities were asking anyone who had contact with the cat to seek post-exposure treatment. 

June 2019/Longmont, Colorado: TimesCall.com reported that police had received a report that an injured cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been seen on a road. Responding officers transported the animal to a veterinary hospital. No additional details were available.

June 2019/Cayuga County, New York: FingerLakesDailyNews.com reported that during the previous month, two apparently homeless cats had been captured and died or were euthanized before testing positive for rabies. An unspecified number of residents had been exposed to the virus. 

June 2019/Collier County, Florida: FOX4Now.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had sustained injuries as a result of being hit by a semitruck. A sheriff’s deputy on patrol reportedly said that “as a semi-truck passed going the other way, he noticed an object blow out from under the truck and realized it was a kitten.” He picked up the animal and transported him to a public animal shelter, where a veterinarian reportedly “determined the cat had abrasions on [his] face and eyelids and would need surgery to reattach his lip, which had suffered a major tear.” He was being treated.

June 2019/Bedford, Virginia: WDBJ7.com reported that a homeless cat had been found badly injured after he’d been hit by a car. He was taken to a public animal shelter and put up for adoption. No additional details were available. 

June 2019/Fall River, Massachusetts: TurnTo10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “bleeding and dragging her legs.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that she’d been shot with a pellet and it had lodged in her spine. She had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Stuart, Florida: CBS12.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision went missing for three days before she was found with a badly injured leg. The injuries were so severe that the leg had to be amputated. Authorities reportedly believed that they were “caused by a projectile of some sort.” They asked anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Parsippany, New Jersey: Patch.com reported that a homeless cat had been found ill or injured. He or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. ParsippanyFocus.com reported that a resident had been exposed to the virus.

June 2019/Anchorage, Alaska: AlaskaStar.com reported that authorities were called after a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with a pellet gun. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where euthanasia was necessary because of the extent of the injuries. No suspects were identified.

June 2019/Mary Esther, Florida: TheDestinLog.com reported that a cat who was “briefly” left outdoors unsupervised had been shot with a pellet gun. The pellet reportedly “entered through her neck and traveled through her body, damaging a number of major organs before lodging in her hip.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she died. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Front Royal, Virginia: NVDaily.com reported that three apparently homeless cats had been found and taken to a veterinary hospital. The next day, one of them began exhibiting symptoms of rabies. They were euthanized, and the one who was ill tested positive for the virus. The district’s health director said, “Feral cats have a particularly high risk of carrying rabies.” He warned that other cats in the area may have been exposed. 

June 2019/Summerville, Georgia: TheSummervilleNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said that he was walking his dog when he heard a scuffle in a wooded area near his home. He walked to the area and found his cat in the mouth of a neighbor’s dog. He was able to retrieve the cat, who was injured. It wasn’t reported whether the animal received veterinary care. Authorities were notified. 

June 2019/Nampa, Idaho: IdahoStatesman.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot with an arrow. He was taken to an animal adoption organization, where he received treatment before dying. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Athens, New York: CBS6Albany.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found covered with tar. An animal adoption group said that the animal had been found crying under a dumpster with his or her head and both back legs “stuck in the gravel and tar.” The kitten was treated with fluids and a heating pad and underwent hours of bathing to get the tar off. It wasn’t reported whether veterinary treatment had been provided. 

June 2019/Watertown, New York: WWNYTV.com reported that a homeless cat had been found ill or injured. He or she evidently died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The cat had been found with another cat and three kittens, all of whom had to be euthanized. 

June 2019/Broward County, Florida: MiamiHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home “lethargic and wouldn’t eat.” He reportedly “had gargled breath and blood coming from his nose and mouth.” His owner waited two or three days before taking him to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot in the neck with a BB gun. A pellet had “lodged itself in the cat’s neck, not far from the spinal column and trachea.” He underwent surgery to remove it. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

June 2019/Billings, Montana: KULR8.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with a pellet gun. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that the pellet had gone “into the left side of the body [and gotten] lodged just under his spine.” Because of the location, it couldn’t be removed. He had reportedly been shot previously and still had a bullet lodged in a kidney. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

June 2019/Kansas City, Missouri: KSHB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been hit by a car and died. Authorities were called to remove the body from the street. 

June 2019/San Antonio, Texas: FOXSanAntonio.com reported that authorities had found an apparently homeless kitten roaming the streets with a broken leg. He was taken to a public animal shelter and then transferred to an adoption group. His leg had reportedly been in a splint for more than a month when it was found that it had become so badly infected that it required amputation. He was reportedly going to undergo surgery. 

June 2019/Ukiah, California: UkiahDailyJournal.com reported that a resident had called authorities about a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision who had been found inside a log and possibly injured. A responding officer reported that the cat would “not let him near” him or her. He reportedly advised the caller to call back “if the animal came out.”

June 2019/Littlefield, Texas: EverythingLubbock.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by three dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner said that she was inside her home when she heard “dogs yelling and barking” outside. She looked outside and saw the dogs attacking the cat. “[O]ne of them had my cat by the head and the other two by the sides,” she said. She called authorities, and an officer picked up the cat, who had “serious injuries.” The animal died “not long after.” The owner said that the cat’s mother had also been attacked and killed by roaming dogs. Authorities were unable to locate the dogs.

June 2019/Springfield, Ohio: WHIO.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner witnessed the attack and called authorities before he went to the home where the dogs lived, broke in, and attacked one of them with a baseball bat, killing the animal. He pleaded guilty to the crime and “was ordered to [complete] 40 hours of community service and to pay $300 in fines for burglary and cruelty to a companion animal.” The owner of the dogs was “charged with a misdemeanor for failing to confine her dogs.”

June 2019/Walker Township, Pennsylvania: StateCollege.com reported that two homeless kittens—who were evidently part of a colony of homeless cats fed behind a veterinary hospital—had been found, one suffering from a head wound. They were quarantined at the hospital, during which time one reportedly “began to show neurological symptoms and died” and the other “began to experience leg paralysis. [His or her] legs then went limp. Soon after the kitten began hypersalivating and died.” Both tested positive for rabies. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reportedly stated that “several people may have been exposed to the kittens or other kittens and cats in a colony.” Anyone who had had contact with the cats was asked to contact the department.

June 2019/Fort Collins, Colorado: Coloradoan.com reported that a resident had pleaded guilty to stealing a neighbor’s cat and killing him. A neighbor reportedly said that she’d seen the defendant sitting on a curb petting the cat before he “pick[ed] up the cat and walk[ed] away, and that was the last time the cat was seen.” The cat was one of at least 10 killed by the defendant before he left their dismembered remains around the neighborhood. He had adopted one from an animal shelter, and one had been stabbed to death. Evidence found in the defendant’s home included “a bloody towel, a box where it appeared the cat was killed, a knife and screwdriver.” He was reportedly “sentenced to 30 months in community corrections” and “one year of jail for a theft charge, to be served concurrently with the longer sentence in community corrections.”

June 2019/Lewiston, Maine: SunJournal.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the spine before he “managed to drag his limp body back home.” Before returning home paralyzed, he had reportedly “been missing for more than four days.” The report said that the “hair and skin on top of [his] back paws [were] scraped bare,” indicating that he’d been dragging himself along the ground for some time. He was also “thin, except for his stomach, which was bloated from having no control over his bladder or bowels.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was confirmed that he’d been shot and a bullet was lodged in his spine. He was euthanized. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

June 2019/Cedar Rapids, Iowa: TheGazette.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “flailing around” in the middle of a highway after he was hit by a vehicle. A truck driver stopped and was able to scoop him up in his jacket. He was taken to a nonprofit veterinary medical clinic, where it was found that he’d sustained “three broken legs, hip fractures and a collapsed lung.” He underwent two surgeries and was expected to survive. 

June 2019/Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania: WPXI.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found ill or injured on a road. He or she was evidently taken to an animal shelter and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

June 2019/Norfolk, Virginia: WTKR.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found dead. Several days before dying, he or she had “reportedly been exhibiting unusual behavior like aggression.” Testing revealed that the animal had contracted rabies.

June 2019/Myerstown, Pennsylvania: WGAL.com reported that a kitten who was apparently homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that she’d been shot with a pellet gun and the pellet had gone through her eye and lodged in her throat. She was being treated. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Tucson, Arizona: KOLD.com reported that four kittens who had apparently been left outdoors had been found dead after contact with a wild animal. Two of them tested positive for rabies. Fifteen cats and kittens and two dogs at the property had to be quarantined. The cats required a 120-day quarantine period, according to TucsonWeekly.com, and the dogs, a 45-day one. Seven residents, neighbors, and family members required post-exposure treatment.

June 2019/Phoenix, Arizona: FOX10Phoenix.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home badly injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that she’d been shot and a bullet had lodged in her leg. According to her owner, “She was shot in the stomach, and it went all the way through her body to her other side, and the bullet lodged in her opposite leg.” She said, “I believe it took her that day and a half to make her way home after she got shot.” She reportedly “believes the shooter or shooters might be targeting feral cats in the neighborhood.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. It was later reported that another cat in the neighborhood who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot twice. The first shooting occurred two months earlier, when one of his owners noticed a patch of hair missing and a hole in him. He wasn’t provided with veterinary treatment. Her husband said, “About two days later, we noticed the hole got a little bit bigger, and now there’s the smell of infection.” The cat was then taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he’d been shot with a pellet gun and a pellet lodged in his hip had become infected. He was shot with a pellet gun again a few weeks later and was receiving veterinary treatment.

June 2019/Denver, Colorado: DenverPost.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead near a neighborhood park. A spokesperson for the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment said that he “was basically stoned to death. … [He] was surrounded by rocks that had blood and hair on them.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Spokane, Washington: KHQ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found badly injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to have a round from a pellet gun removed. An injured leg would likely have to be amputated. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

June 2019/Martinsburg, West Virginia: LocalDVM.com reported that a resident was bitten by a homeless cat when she tried to pet the animal. The cat was taken to an adoption group and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident required post-exposure treatment. 

June 2019/Mesa, Arizona: AZCentral.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had sustained severe injuries after a man chased the animal around a parking lot and then wrapped him or her in a shirt and kicked the animal repeatedly. The abuse was captured by video surveillance, which showed the kitten dazed and unable to run away after the beating. Some workers found the animal in the same spot approximately eight hours later. They took the kitten to a veterinary hospital, where the animal was diagnosed with “head trauma, neurological tremors and bleeding in the eyes.” A suspect was identified and charged with cruelty to animals, among other charges.

June 2019/Spokane, Washington: FOX28Spokane.com reported that a kitten who was one of a litter found near a rendering plant had sustained “extensive burns from being accidentally covered in hot animal fat.” He or she was taken to an adoption group and was receiving “critical care.”  

June 2019/Water Valley, Mississippi: HottyToddy.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home injured. After he began “aggressively panting,” he was taken to a veterinary hospital, where infected wounds were treated. When he didn’t show signs of improvement, he was taken back to the hospital. X-rays showed that he’d been shot and that “a metal pellet and a .22 bullet” were lodged in his abdomen. Fluid had pooled around his heart and lungs, and he required care at a specialist hospital. It wasn’t known if he’d survive. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

June 2019/Corpus Christi, Texas: KZTV Action 10 News reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Surveillance footage captured the attack. Authorities were notified, and the dogs’ owner reportedly paid for the cat’s cremation.

June 2019/Mount Airy, Maryland: CarrollCountyTimes.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had bitten a resident. The cat was evidently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The resident required post-exposure treatment.

June 2019/Kingsport, Tennessee: WJHL.com reported that a man had been charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals after a neighbor reported that she’d seen him shoot a cat he’d trapped “five or six times with a ‘bb or airsoft gun.’” Authorities investigated and were unable to find the animal’s body or make contact with the suspect. A court date was set.

June 2019/Mishawaka, Indiana: ABC57.com reported that a resident had been seen near her home holding a knife and approaching a neighbor’s cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. Authorities were called “and found a deceased cat with a wound on [the] stomach and blood coming from [the] nose, according to the probable cause affidavit. The officer noted the cat had died recently.” The resident was charged with “[k]illing a domestic animal,” among other charges.

May 2019/Knightdale, North Carolina: CBS17.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two or three dogs who were also roaming unsupervised. One of the cat’s owners said that the dogs had chased the cat up a tree one day. Later, the man “woke up to a disturbing scuffle outside his window.” He said, “We ran out [to] the porch and we could see the bigger dog hunkered down. I think he had a hold of her.” A day or two afterward, the cat was found dead in a neighbor’s yard. Another neighbor reportedly said that “the same dogs attacked and killed her cat … in front of her young son.” Authorities were notified.

May 2019/Wythe County, Virginia: SWVAToday.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked a resident who was walking his dog. The animal had reportedly been roaming the area and was “acting sick and had a noticeable wound.” The resident captured the cat and took him or her to a veterinary hospital, where the animal died before testing positive for rabies. The resident required post-exposure treatment.

May 2019/Jasper, Georgia: Pickens.FetchYourNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with an injury from what appeared to be a bite. She was taken to an animal shelter and began exhibiting rabies symptoms. She was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. Two animal control officers required post-exposure treatment.

May 2019/Lake Benton, Minnesota: BringMeTheNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on the side of his or her family’s home with an arrow through both the back legs. The animal was apparently taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Wichita Falls, Texas: WausauDailyHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot to death by a neighbor. The animal’s owner reportedly told authorities that “he was working in his yard when he heard what he thought was an air rifle being shot, followed by the sounds of his cat … crying.” He found his cat dead in a driveway. The neighbor “admitted to shooting the cat with the air rifle because he was tired of [the animal] urinating on his property.” He was charged with cruelty to animals.

May 2019/Bakersfield, California: BakersfieldNow.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found covered with blood and with “a gaping hole in her skin.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that she’d been shot with a BB gun and that two pellets remained inside her. It wasn’t known if she would survive. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Ocoee, Florida: FOX35Orlando.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot to death. His owner said that she “heard a big bang, a gunshot, and then … a cat squeal.” She found the animal injured and took him to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed a bullet in his body. He didn’t survive. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Escambia County, Florida: PNJ.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked two residents. The animal was apparently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

May 2019/Millstone Township, New Jersey: CentralJersey.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who’d been seen “wandering the neighborhood” had attacked a resident. The animal was captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

May 2019/Hamilton, Ohio: FOX19.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead. His body was discovered with signs of having been beaten. His owner said, “All of his claws were completely ground down and broken, meaning someone was holding him, and he was trying to get away.” Another cat belonging to her was found with an injury to his tail so severe that his spine was exposed. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where his tail had to be amputated. A veterinarian also reportedly said that he’d “been struck on the head.” The owner said that she planned to file a report with authorities, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Portsmouth, Rhode Island: PortsmouthPress.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. No additional details were available.

May 2019/Chesapeake, Virginia: 13NewsNow.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead. His owner said that she found “a gunshot wound on his chest and a trail of blood which stretched along the street.” She reportedly said that she “plans to keep the rest of her pets in the safety of her home.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Windham, Maine: WMTW.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that he’d “been shot through the stomach, with the bullet lodged in his hind leg.” He was receiving treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Mahomet, Illinois: WCIA.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had apparently been found injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was discovered that he’d been shot with a pellet gun. A pellet reportedly “went through the cat’s nostril and became lodged in his esophagus.” He was unable to eat or drink until surgery was performed to remove it. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Little Beaver Township, Pennsylvania: WFMJ.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured. He was captured in a box trap and taken to an adoption group, where it was found that he’d been “shot two or three times with a small caliber gun or air rifle.” He was receiving treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Cedar Rapids, Iowa: TheGazette.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found in late January “frozen and clinging to life.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital and then placed in a foster home to recover. She required fluids, and her ears were so badly frostbitten that the tips fell off or had to be amputated. After months of recovery, she was put up for adoption.

May 2019/Prince George County, Virginia: NBC12.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had evidently been found ill or injured. Authorities captured the animal, and he or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

May 2019/Ukiah, California: UkiahDailyJournal.com reported that a police officer had responded to a call about an injured cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. The animal was transported to a shelter. No additional details were available.

May 2019/Las Vegas, Nevada: News3LV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dying of suspected poisoning. His owner said, “By the time we could do anything, it was too late .… Strychnine death in animals is very apparent and nothing that anybody wants to see or witness.” He also said that he “would advise anybody … to definitely keep [cats and dogs] inside because you never know when that kind of tragedy is going to strike.”

May 2019/Lexington, South Carolina: WISTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked three people. The animal was captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The people who were attacked were advised to seek medical treatment.

May 2019/Washington County, Oregon: IdahoStatesman.com reported that a kitten had been found by a garbage collector in a trash can “encased in spray foam, hanging upside down from [the] back legs.” The collector reportedly said that he “knew the kitten was alive because [he or she] was whining.” The kitten was believed to be from one of two litters belonging to homeless cats fed by a resident. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/North Sioux City, South Dakota: SiouxlandNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been captured in a box trap, taken to a cemetery, and shot by a police officer. During an investigation, that cat’s body and the body of a second one were found at the cemetery. The chief of police reportedly said that he had advised the police officer to take a trap containing a cat to the cemetery in April and instructed him “to release the cat in the cemetery.” Another cat who had been trapped in April was reportedly still alive and was to be transferred to an adoption group. The officer was reportedly charged with “intentionally killing an animal belonging to another person.”

May 2019/Douglas County, Minnesota: EchoPress.com reported that two residents had asked authorities for assistance with an injured, apparently homeless cat. It wasn’t clear if the reports were about the same cat. No additional information was available.

May 2019/Baldwin, New York: LIHerald.com reported that a homeless cat had been seen with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto a leg. A resident who leaves cat food outdoors was unable to capture the animal, who was “still walking around with the device.” She said that she’d recently seen another cat with a similar trap clamped onto a leg and was able to remove it. She said, “I didn’t think much of it [at the time].” Authorities were notified. LongIsland.News12.com reported that another individual who leaves cat food outdoors had also seen the cat “hobbling around” with a trap on his or her leg. He said that a raccoon had reportedly died after becoming caught in a similar trap, and two other cats he regularly saw were “missing.” It was later reported that the cat who had been seen with a trap on his leg had been captured and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

May 2019/Forest County, Pennsylvania: ErieNewsNow.com reported that state police were investigating after two teens allegedly abused and killed a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. One of the teens reportedly videotaped the incident. The animal was apparently “inadvertently hit by their vehicle.” He or she was injured but still alive when “thrown into the bed of a pickup truck and taken several miles to a garage …. The animal was taken out of the bed and thrown aggressively against the front wall of a wooden garage, investigators said. [The cat] was then taken into the garage where [he or she] was disturbingly beat and tortured while being repeatedly hit to death with a metal splitting maul.” The body was discarded behind the garage. The investigation was “ongoing, and prosecution [was] pending.”

May 2019/West Orange, Texas: 12NewsNow.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. His owner said that she went outside after hearing three gunshots and found the cat injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. His owner said that she “believes people are getting frustrated with the amount [of] strays and are choosing to take matters into their own hands.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Randolph County, North Carolina: MyFOX8.com reported that a resident had found an apparently homeless cat injured on a bridge. He had sustained burns “down to his skin” and had “maggots all over his body, a small hole in his stomach and burns in his mouth.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, and workers suspected that someone had intentionally doused him with flammable liquid and set him on fire. The person who found him was treating him at their home “with medications received from the vets to treat the burned skin and to kill any of the maggots still on his skin.” It was later reported that he was euthanized because the “burns were so severe and the pain he was in was unbearable” and that a second injured cat had been found hiding under a bush. “The skin on the lower third of her body was slowly peeling off, clumps of hair had been torched and she had a small hole in her side where you could see straight through to the ground below,” according to the news report. She was taken to a veterinary hospital and was being treated. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Clark County, Ohio: SpringfieldNewsSun.com reported that a man was facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting a roaming cat three times with an arrow. A witness said that the animal had accidentally been shot when he ran in front of an archery target. She said that she had worked as a veterinary technician and told the shooter that “he had to do something, he couldn’t just leave the cat to suffer like that.” The report said that he “went back and shot the cat two more times in an attempt to put [him] out of his misery.” Authorities found the animal alive and transported him to a veterinarian’s home, as it was after business hours. The arrows were removed, and he was stabilized. He later had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries.

May 2019/Deltona, Florida: WESH.com reported that three cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died, at least one of them after being mauled by two dogs who’d escaped from their yard. The attack was captured on video surveillance, which showed the dogs “dragging the cat out” of a garage and tearing at him. A neighbor said that they had killed a second cat, and a third cat had been found dead on a road. Responding authorities were able to find the dogs, who were quarantined pending the outcome of a “dangerous dog investigation.”

May 2019/Burnt Hills, New York: CBS6Albany.com reported that a veterinarian was advising guardians to provide animals with monthly tick-prevention medication after around 60 ticks had been found on a “barn cat.” He reportedly said that “the larger ticks had to have been feeding on the cat for 24–48 hours, which causes them to swell up.”

May 2019/Howell Township, New Jersey: JerseyShoreOnline.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by area residents had been found with an arrow through the body. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/New Castle, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh.CBSLocal.com reported that a homeless cat had “attacked a person [who] had been feeding a colony of feral cats.” Authorities captured the animal, who was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Eight cats who were exposed had to be quarantined for 120 days, and it was reported that “[s]everal feral cats [who] have been exposed cannot be quarantined.”

May 2019/Stoughton, Massachusetts: ENewsCourier.com reported that a cat who had escaped from his home was found two months later, starving and frostbitten, by a good Samaritan. He was taken to an animal shelter, where he was found to be “emaciated [and] dehydrated and had suffered from frostbite on [his] left ear and front paw due to long-term exposure to the elements.” He received medical treatment, and a microchip enabled him to be reunited with his family.

May 2019/Talladega County, Alabama: ABC3340.com reported that two cats had been shot to death. Authorities found two videos of the abuse on social media. One showed a cat “dying after being shot,” and another showed “one of the cats being burned.” A suspect was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. One of the animals had reportedly belonged to the suspect’s family, and a neighbor had allowed the other to roam outdoors without supervision.

May 2019/Knowlton Township, New Jersey: NJHerald.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a resident had been found dead in a neighbor’s yard with an arrow through his body. The resident said that “the cat had likely been dead for a couple of days and suffered greatly.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

May 2019/Lake Station, Indiana: ChicagoTribune.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured and was taken to an animal adoption group. A spokesperson for the group said the cat “was dripping in mud and … was so cold she was shaking.” She was transported to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d been shot with a pellet gun and that a pellet had lodged near her spine, paralyzing her. She had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. The adoption group’s spokesperson said that it had admitted many homeless cats in bad shape recently, “including a declawed, emaciated 15-year-old cat with an upper respiratory infection” who had been found “walking the streets.” The animal was receiving treatment. The spokesperson reportedly said that “there’s an overpopulation of stray cats in the area, a problem she blames partially on the movement toward no-kill shelters. She said when these shelters become full, they don’t accept any new cats until some are adopted.” She went on to say, “No one likes euthanasia, but they’re dying in the streets.”

May 2019/New Berlin, Wisconsin: CBS58.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become trapped inside a hydraulic spring under a loading dock. Responding firefighters worked for “several hours” to extricate the kitten. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. One of the animal’s legs was so badly injured that it would have to be amputated.

May 2019/Port St. Joe, Florida: StarFL.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been seen falling 50 to 60 feet off a bridge. Witnesses called authorities, and she was found “seriously injured as her breathing was labored and she could not move her hind half.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she was given a “tentative diagnosis … that there was a dislocation of a vertebra causing paralysis on [her] back end.” She reportedly “has a distinctive ‘howl’ when in pain.” It wasn’t known if she fell or was thrown from the bridge.

May 2019/Laconia, New Hampshire: WMUR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had reportedly “lost consciousness and [gone] into shock” after being shot with an arrow. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the arrow was removed and it was determined that a leg would have to be amputated. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Chico, California: ChicoER.com published a letter to the editor written by a resident who had found an apparently homeless cat on his property who was described as “[h]ot, injured, dehydrated and hungry.” The cat was taken to a public animal shelter. No additional details were available.

April 2019/Helena, Montana: KTVH.com reported that a homeless cat had been found injured “after living outside all winter.” She was taken to an animal-adoption group, where she was recovering. Both of her ears had sustained such severe frostbite that they fell off or were amputated, and her fur was so matted that it had to be shaved off.

April 2019/Simpsonville, South Carolina: GreenvilleOnline.com reported that at least six cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had allegedly been captured in box traps and abandoned in a rural part of the county by a company hired to remove cats from a neighborhood where they were perceived to be a nuisance. As many as 25 cats were found alive in the rural area. The owners of three missing cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision said that theirs were not among those found. The company’s owner was charged with animal abandonment.

April 2019/Winchester, Virginia: WHSV.com reported that a homeless cat had apparently been found ill or injured and was captured by authorities “after interacting with at least one person.” The cat was euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

April 2019/Stanfield, Oregon: EastOregonian.com reported that authorities had received a report stating that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been hit by a car. He or she was reportedly seen on a road, “alive but seriously injured.” No additional details were available.

April 2019/Morrow, Ohio: FOX19.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed at a business had been found injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that she’d been shot in the face with a pellet gun. A pellet remained lodged in her nose. She also had an older injury described as “a protruding bone in her chest that was likely caused by someone kicking her.” She underwent surgery. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Marshall, Minnesota: MarshallIndependent.com published a letter to the editor that alleged that a cat who was described as a “shop cat” had been found “with a huge hole in her and her tail almost all the way off.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d been shot and that bullet fragments remained “all over in her body—in her intestines, stomach, etc.” She underwent surgeries and a blood transfusion before dying. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Kenosha, Wisconsin: JournalTimes.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found badly injured on the side of a road. He or she was taken to an animal-adoption group, where X-rays showed “that a bullet was lodged in the cat’s spine, leaving [the animal] paralyzed and with serious internal injuries that could not be repaired.” The cat was euthanized. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified.

April 2019/Ashland, Kentucky: WSAZ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by two dogs who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were called, and their investigation led to the arrest of the dogs’ owners on drug charges.

April 2019/Houston, Texas: ABC13.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner was injured when she tried to stop the attack. Authorities were investigating.

April 2019/Hollywood, Florida: WSVN.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had “dragged herself back … home, howling in pain” after someone shot her with a BB gun. She was reportedly unable to use her back legs and was taken to a veterinary hospital. A pellet was “still lodged in her pelvic area,” and a veterinarian was “concerned it could have damaged her bladder and colon.” She was given pain medication while possible treatments were considered. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Danville, Virginia: WSET.com reported that a police officer had found an apparently homeless cat whose head had become stuck in an empty jar. She was taken to an animal shelter, where the jar had to be cut off. She was described as “very hungry and very dehydrated” and was receiving treatment.

April 2019/Baltimore, Maryland: Sent-Trib.com reported that a homeless cat who was part of a colony had been seen limping by a woman who puts food out for the animals. She was unable to capture him. After “a few weeks,” he was seen again and was reportedly unable to walk. The feeder said, “It looked like someone harmed him on the right side of his body.” He was taken to an adoption group, where “X-rays and an exam showed that he” had “multiple puncture wounds on his legs, a pretty nasty infection, [and] abscesses in the legs,” according to a spokesperson. He was in critical condition.

April 2019/Bay City, Michigan: WNEM.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead on a road. The animal had apparently been hit and killed by a car.

April 2019/Sullivan, New York: Syracuse.com reported that a homeless cat had bitten two residents. He or she evidently died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The residents were receiving post-exposure treatment.

April 2019/Daly City, California: MercuryNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found on the side of a road badly injured after he’d been hit by a car. A resident found him while walking his dog and said that the cat was in such bad shape that he “at first didn’t even realize it was an animal.” According to the report, “He was in shock, had a fractured jaw, busted lip and damaged right eye and was bleeding from the mouth.” He was taken to an animal shelter, where he underwent “emergency surgery to wire his jaw back together and repair his lower lip,” and surgeons later operated on his damaged eye.

April 2019/Georgetown, South Carolina: CountOn2.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot by a neighbor. One of the cat’s owners reportedly “told deputies the family was about to eat dinner when they heard a gunshot. They went outside and used a flashlight to look around from their porch and reportedly could see their cat laying in the neighbor’s yard not moving.” He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, but no additional details about the cat’s condition were available. The neighbor allegedly admitted to shooting the cat and said that he thought the animal was a raccoon. He was arrested and charged with “malicious injury to animals.”

April 2019/Braceville Township, Ohio: WFMJ.com reported that a cat who was described as a “neighborhood cat” had been attacked and killed by two dogs who were roaming unsupervised. A witness to the attack said that she heard “the most wretched scream I had ever heard in my life.” Another witness said it was “[h]orrible to see [the animal] be ripped apart like that.” Surveillance footage captured the attack—it showed the dogs mauling the cat to death. Authorities were investigating.

April 2019/New Philadelphia, Ohio: News5Cleveland.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been seen attacking and possibly killing a bat who later tested positive for rabies. Authorities were searching for the cat and owner. TimesReporter.com later reported that the cat had been found dead in front of an elementary school. His or her body was sent for rabies testing.

April 2019/Charleston, South Carolina: Live5News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home injured after one of her owners heard a gunshot. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a pellet wound to the neck was treated. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Cleveland, Ohio: WQAD.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found on a resident’s porch with both of his ears cut and bleeding. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he required surgery “to stop the pain and spread of infection. He had to have both ears amputated.” It was believed that the cuts were intentionally made by a human. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/East St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania: TribDem.com reported that three cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with an air rifle or small-caliber rifle. One of them died, and the other two sustained injuries. No additional details were available. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Jacksonville, North Carolina: JDNews.com reported that a homeless cat had bitten a man who was feeding a “colony of feral cats.” Authorities captured the animal, who was euthanized after exhibiting “neurological symptoms,” and he or she tested positive for rabies. The resident was told to seek treatment.

April 2019/Ocean Springs, Mississippi: SunHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had allegedly been found dead in a street. A group of teens videotaped the cat’s body and “bloody face” and shared the footage on social media. Authorities were investigating.

April 2019/Kempner, Texas: KDHNews.com reported that two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead on a resident’s back porch. She said that “it was obvious they had been mauled—their hair was matted and there was blood all over the wall.” It was believed that two dogs who’d escaped from their yard had attacked them. Authorities were alerted.

April 2019/Crawford County, Arkansas: 5NewsOnline.com reported that five homeless cats and six opossums who had been fed outdoors by a self-professed animal “rescue” had been found “broken, bleeding and shot to death.” They were reportedly found “displayed in a row.” Other cats who’d been fed at the site had sustained injuries and were “traumatized mentally.” The group removed 17 surviving cats from the site and reportedly planned to remove “all the animals [who] are dumped here on a regular basis.” The cats were being taken to a self-professed “sanctuary.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Emporium, Pennsylvania: WJACTV.com reported that a cat who had escaped from her home had returned lethargic and with an arrow through her head. She was apparently taken to a veterinary hospital, where she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. WTVR.com later reported that a suspect in the case had been arrested.

April 2019/Plymouth, Pennsylvania: WNEP.com reported that at least three cats of 15 who had allegedly been abandoned after their owner was evicted had been found injured. One was discovered with “visible facial wounds” and a hook embedded in his or her mouth. The animal was evidently taken to a veterinary hospital, where “extensive and expensive medical work” was required. Two additional cats had been seen “with string coming out of their mouths,” according to a spokesperson for an animal-adoption group. She said that a man in the neighborhood had said that “he was fishing for cats” by baiting hooks on strings and luring the animals with them. Authorities were investigating. TimesLeader.com reported that “[t]hree fishhooks attached to a string” had been surgically removed from the one cat who received veterinary care. On the way to the hospital, he or she was reportedly “screaming and kept trying to pull it out. String was down [the animal’s] throat.” Ten cats had reportedly been removed from the property and taken to a veterinary hospital, but two who’d been seen with “string emerging from their anuses” had not been found.

April 2019/Oakland, California: KCBSRadio.Radio.com reported that several homeless cats had been found after they were “shot by someone with a pellet gun.” At least four cats had been found with injuries. One had to be euthanized because of the extent of the damage, and another had to undergo a leg amputation. Authorities were asking anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: KFOR.com reported that a resident allegedly saw two teens throw a newborn kitten into a trash can in a neighborhood where there were “a lot of feral cats.” The kitten was found at the bottom of the can, “screaming” and “shivering.” He or she was taken to an animal-adoption group. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified.

April 2019/Fellsmere, Florida: TCPalm.com reported that authorities had been unable to locate a cat who had attacked a resident and was exhibiting symptoms of rabies. The resident received post-exposure treatment.

April 2019/Middletown Township, New Jersey: APP.com reported that health department officials were searching for a cat who had been seen “with a lame back left leg and large wounds.” It was believed that the animal had been exposed to rabies.

April 2019/Quincy, Florida: WCTV.tv reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “not acting like [his or her] usual self.” The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital, where symptoms of rabies were identified. The cat was euthanized and tested positive for the virus.

April 2019/Cooper City, Florida: Local10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “severely injured and covered in blood.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that she’d been shot eight times with a pellet gun. “There is one lodged in her knee,” her owner said. “There are two right here by her jaw, one right by her throat, and there is one that is going right up her nose and behind her eye and she has one on her back.” The veterinarian treating her said that “staff first have to let [the cat’s] body recover before they can attempt to remove the pellets.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

April 2019/Hollywood, Florida: Local10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “with a large puncture wound, lying nearly dead in the bushes.” One of her owners said, “She was, like, meowing and crying out.” She was apparently taken to a veterinary hospital and received treatment. Two known aggressive dogs had reportedly been seen roaming the neighborhood, also without supervision, around the time that the injured cat was found. Authorities were investigating.

April 2019/San Angelo, Texas: GoSanAngelo.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had apparently been found showing signs of illness. The animal was captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

April 2019/Cannon Beach, Oregon: CannonBeachGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. Police were called, and a responding officer located the animal. He or she was returned to the owner the next day. No additional details were available.

March 2019/Corvallis, Oregon: OrangeMediaNetwork.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured by workers at a landfill. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital. Authorities were called, and a responding officer found the cat inside a box, unable to move. At the request of the hospital, the animal was taken to a humane society. No additional details were available.

March 2019/Amity Township, Pennsylvania: ReadingEagle.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found in a resident’s yard staggering and unable to keep his or her balance. Authorities were called and took the cat to an animal shelter, where he or she was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The animal was the second rabid cat found in the area in recent months.

March 2019/Gibsonton, Florida: ABCActionNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two pit bulls, also roaming without supervision. Authorities were investigating.

March 2019/Ogden, Utah: FOX13Now.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by two dogs who were being walked by their owner. A witness said that she saw the cat trying to climb a tree to get away while one of the dogs pulled on the animal’s tail. The other dog was then seen carrying the dead cat in his or her mouth. The witness said that the dogs’ owner told her that the cat had been in a public field and that “the dogs were simply doing their job.” Authorities were called and found the cat’s body in a ditch. The dogs’ owner was issued a citation.

March 2019/San Antonio, Texas: KENS5.com reported that a cat who was part of a colony of homeless cats who’d been sterilized and abandoned had died after he or she was attacked by a “pack” of dogs who were homeless or roaming without supervision. Other cats in the colony had apparently also been attacked, but their status wasn’t reported. Authorities were called and set traps in an effort to capture the dogs, but the cat feeder admitted to tampering with them because cats were entering them.

March 2019/Houston, Texas: ABC13.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had become trapped in a storm drain under a manhole cover. A good Samaritan heard her cries and was able to use a ladder to retrieve her. She was reportedly “older and dehydrated.” No additional details were available.

March 2019/Nashville, Tennessee: WSMV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured and unable to move. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that a BB was lodged in his leg. His owner said, “His pelvis is fractured both in the front and the back and he has staples … on the inside of his leg where the BB wound was.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Garvin County, Oklahoma: KXII.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs after she was put into a fenced area with them by a neighbor. The dogs’ owner reportedly said that the cat and others belonging to the same owner “have been a nuisance to him and other neighbors, scratching vehicles and chasing their chickens.” He was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. 

March 2019/St. Petersburg, Florida: FOX13News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on his owner’s doorstep drenched with oil or gasoline, with two air gun pellet wounds to his face. One of them “was above his eye and the other was on his cheek, where the pellet was still intact.” It wasn’t reported whether he received veterinary care. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Larksville, Pennsylvania: WNEP.com reported that a homeless cat, who “was found by a man with a cat colony,” had been taken to an animal adoption group after he or she was found “acting aggressive and disoriented.” A spokesperson for the group said that the cat was “drooly, wobbly, with an imbalance.” He or she was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The man who found the cat had reportedly “since gotten rid of the cat colony.”

March 2019/Lincoln, Maine: FOXBangor.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found by public works employees unresponsive and frozen to the ground. The agency’s director said, “When these guys brought the cat in to me, the cat was frozen almost solid. [He] was stiff. . . . I wrapped him up in my coat and we set him in the sun. He sat there about two hours on my desk in the sun ’til the humane society opened up.” He was apparently being treated, but no additional information was available.

March 2019/Pompano Beach, Florida: PointPubs.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a pit bull who had escaped from his home. One of the cat’s owners said, “All I heard was her screeching.” Her husband ran outside and tried to stop the attack but said that she was “almost severed in half” by the dog. Authorities were called, and the dog’s owner was fined $250.

March 2019/Wesley Chapel, Florida: FOX13News.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found ill or injured. He or she was evidently captured and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies.

March 2019/Pensacola, Florida: WEARTV.com reported that two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead and mutilated in a neighborhood. A resident said that she found her cat dead in a neighbor’s yard and then discovered another dead cat in her own yard the next day. Both had been “skinned with their organs removed.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Middletown, Ohio: FOX19.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an arrow in his back. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Welsh, Louisiana: KPLCTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an arrow through the head. The animal was apparently taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Winter Park, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had attacked and bitten two residents who were walking their dogs. One of them said that the cat bit him six times before he threw the animal “in a rather forceful way” to the ground, where he or she “bounced” and ran off. The cat was apparently later captured by authorities and died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The residents received post-exposure treatment.

March 2019/Altoona, Pennsylvania: WJACTV.com reported that seven cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the community in a period of about two weeks. Three of the animals died from the injuries they’d sustained. One was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a .22-caliber bullet from his or her face and possibly the partial removal of his or her jaw. The status of the other three cats wasn’t reported. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

March 2019/Boise, Idaho: KTVB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found limping. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot with a .22-caliber bullet. He reportedly sustained a shattered humerus and underwent surgery, including the placement of steel rods and pins. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Columbia, South Carolina: WLTX.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found near death after she was shot several times. When she was found, the wounds had become infected and gangrene had set in. She was taken to an adoption center, where veterinary staff amputated both of her front legs. The attending veterinarian said, “It was one of the worse infections I have ever seen. I’ve done lots of surgeries but I have never seen one that bad and one left that long.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Andover, Kansas: KAKE.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot with a BB gun. One of them had been shot in the head but survived. The other had been shot in the spine and was paralyzed. He or she had to be euthanized. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. 

March 2019/Faribault County, Minnesota: FaribaultCountyRegister.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been taken to an animal shelter with “severely frostbitten ears and paw pads. She recently lost both of her ears from the severity of her frostbite.” Another cat had been admitted with “severely matted fur from surviving in the snow.”

March 2019/Jacksonville, North Carolina: JDNews.com reported that a cat who had apparently been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been strangled and his or her neck had broken before the animal’s body was placed on the owner’s driveway. A suspect was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals, among other charges.

March 2019/Lewiston, Utah: HJNews.com printed a letter to the editor alleging that a cat who was described as an “outdoor” cat used “to catch mice” had been killed after being “taken to a remote location and shot in the head by someone in my neighborhood with a rifle.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. 

March 2019/Leesburg, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that authorities had been called after an apparently homeless cat who had been trying to get inside a residence attacked two people. When the door to the residence was opened, the cat ran inside and scratched and bit them. A responding sheriff’s deputy was also attacked before containing the animal, who was taken to an animal shelter and euthanized. He or she tested positive for rabies, and all three people required post-exposure treatment. A neighbor reportedly “said roaming cats are a big problem in her neighborhood.” 

March 2019/Harrison, Ohio: FOX19.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned “home whimpering and limping.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed “a pellet, and it was flat inside of his leg, and it had just split the bone right in half,” according to his owner. He underwent surgery, and the leg may have to be amputated. According to the report, the veterinarian who treated him “said that treating animal gunshot wounds is becoming commonplace. She said she has seen injuries from rifles, handguns and air soft guns.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Miami, Florida: MiamiHerald.com reported that a man was in court facing charges of cruelty to animals for allegedly setting a caged cat on fire and then throwing the animal “to his pit bulls in order to finish killing the animal or to dispose of [the] remains.” Video surveillance footage reportedly showed the man “dousing a live cat with some sort of combustible liquid,” according to a police report, and then “lighting matches, flicking them on the trapped animal until [he or she] burst into flames. The animal began jumping and writhing in the small cage ‘in extreme pain and suffering seeking to escape while burning alive.’” Residents reportedly said that the man “did not like the stray cats [who] lived on the property.” A hearing date was scheduled.

March 2019/Longmont, Colorado: TimesCall.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “stuck in a fence.” A resident who had apparently tried to help the animal was bitten and called authorities. The cat either died or was euthanized and sent for rabies testing. No additional details were available.

March 2019/Muncie, Indiana: FOX59.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found during subfreezing temperatures “frozen under a car.” A responding animal control officer found him partially paralyzed, “caked in mud and soaking wet.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where his tail had to be amputated and his back legs were found to be paralyzed. He received treatment and required a “homemade wheelchair to get around.”

March 2019/Hillsdale, Michigan: WILX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home badly injured. His owner said, “His arm was just hanging there. Like dragging.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot and that bullet fragments remained in his shattered leg, which had to be amputated. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/Richmond, Virginia: WRIC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an injury to her eye. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she underwent surgery to have a BB pellet removed. The eye may need to be removed, and her owner said that there’s “a very good chance she’s going to be blind in that eye.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

March 2019/San Antonio, Texas: KENS5.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a pack of dogs, also roaming without supervision. The cat’s owner said she went outside after “she heard a commotion” and witnessed the attack. Authorities were called.

March 2019/Maine, New York: Local12.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found unable to use his back legs. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot with a pellet gun. A pellet had gone through his body near his spine. He remained under treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified.

March 2019/Cochise County, Arizona: KOLD.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had become sick and had to be euthanized. Tests revealed that he or she had contracted rabies. During the illness, “[s]everal people, dogs, and livestock” had come into contact with the cat. Authorities were investigating the exposures.

March 2019/Richmond, Virginia: WTVR.com reported that a homeless cat described as a “popular stray cat” at a city park had bitten a woman. The feline was evidently taken to an animal shelter, was euthanized, and tested positive for rabies. The woman required post-exposure treatment.

February 2019/Providence, Rhode Island: WPRI.com reported that a homeless cat described as a “tame street cat” had been found with his head trapped in the lid of a food-storage container. Authorities took him to a veterinary hospital for treatment, which may include removing a badly infected eye.

February 2019/Brunswick, Maine: WGME.com reported that a cat who had been admitted to an animal shelter with a painful-looking gait was found to have buckshot embedded in a leg. It wasn’t known when he’d been shot.

February 2019/Sauk County, Wisconsin: Channel3000.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found “under the hood of a car entangled in the engine.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he had sustained major head injuries, including such severe damage to his skull that a “chunk” was missing. It was believed that he’d sustained the injuries days before he was found. He underwent surgery, which “involved cutting off both ears and stitching up the salvageable skin.” He was also “at risk for meningitis … and had a buildup of grease and chemicals embedded in his fur.”

February 2019/Clarksville, Tennessee: TheLeafChronicle.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found emaciated, drenched with water, and caked with mud in the wheel well of a vehicle during flooding in the area. He was taken to a veterinary hospital and diagnosed with roundworms, feline leukemia, and an injury to his hind end that required surgery.

February 2019/Frazer, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that a homeless cat had been found apparently exhibiting symptoms of rabies. The animal was evidently euthanized and tested positive for the virus.

February 2019/Barboursville, West Virginia: WVAH.com reported that five homeless cats who were described as part of a colony who were fed near a shuttered business had been found dead from suspected poisoning. One had “died after hiding in a hole,” and another had been found “face down in a culvert.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/North Highlands, California: ABC10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found panting and in pain. She was admitted to a veterinary hospital in critical condition. X-rays revealed that she’d been shot and that two pellets were lodged in her body, one of which had punctured her intestines. She underwent surgery, required blood transfusions, and remained in critical condition. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Abilene, Texas: KTXS.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with a pair of scissors embedded in his back. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that the scissors had cut his spleen in two places, and he underwent surgery. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Oxnard, California: LosAngeles.CBSLocal.com reported that police had arrested a man who was allegedly captured on video surveillance shooting a cat—who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision—with a crossbow. The footage reportedly showed him shooting the weapon in an alley, then picking up a cat who had been killed and putting his or her body in a trash receptacle. He was charged with cruelty to animals.

February 2019/Indiana, Pennsylvania: IndianaGazette.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. The shooter then “fled in an unknown direction by unknown means.” Authorities were asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward. No additional details were available.

February 2019/Pinellas County, Florida: ABCActionNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot in the face and doused with gasoline. An air rifle bullet was found lodged in his face. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional details were available.

February 2019/American Canyon, California: NapaValleyRegister.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by a man who said that the animal had scratched him. Authorities received a report stating “that a male was seen choking, punching and throwing a cat along the railroad tracks.” Responding “[o]fficers found a cat wrapped in a sweater near the tracks” and found a man “covered in scratches and what appeared to be cat hair” at a nearby store. He was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals. The cat, who sustained an obvious injury to the tail, was taken to an animal shelter.

February 2019/Tallahassee, Florida: WCTV.tv reported that a homeless cat had been found with a 5-inch metal blow dart sticking out of his or her side. A group that sterilizes and abandons cats was called, and a member attempted to capture the feline with a box trap. After nine days of unsuccessful attempts to capture the injured animal, the cat was eventually contained and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Charleston, South Carolina: CountOn2.com reported that a resident had required post-exposure rabies treatment after a homeless cat he’d been feeding scratched him and ultimately tested positive for the virus. No additional details were available.

February 2019/Asbury Park, New Jersey: PhillyVoice.com reported that two apparently homeless cats had been found dead on top of a garbage can. A police spokesperson reportedly said that the animals had “suffered significant trauma” and that evidence suggested that “this may not be an isolated incident.” Police were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Pensacola, Florida: NorthEscambia.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead on a road. He had apparently been hit by a car.

February 2019/Franklin, Indiana: WISHTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured on the side of a road. He was taken to an animal shelter, where he underwent surgery to remove BB pellets. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Syracuse, New York: News3LV.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on a busy highway interchange with two of her feet and her tail frozen to a guardrail. A good Samaritan scraped the iced appendages from the rail and took her to an animal shelter for treatment.

February 2019/Florence, Kentucky: TheFirstNewspaper.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found in a parking lot and appeared injured. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where two large Cuterebra larvae were removed from her face and neck. A video of the removal was shared, in which she “groans in pain as the vet makes cuts in the skin to remove the maggot which have [sic] infected her.” She was evidently receiving treatment.

February 2019/Little Rock, Arkansas: THV11.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with a 5-pound steel-jaw trap clamped onto his leg. Authorities were called and were able to capture him using a box trap. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a “veterinarian had to amputate the cat’s leg from just below the elbow and said the cat had the trap on [his] leg for at least a week, causing the lower leg to die.” Authorities were investigating.

February 2019/Jackson, Michigan: WILX.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had sustained injuries when the engine of a vehicle in which she’d sought warmth and safety was started. When the vehicle’s owner found the cat trapped in the engine, the car was towed to a dealership and authorities were called. After the cat was extracted, she was taken to an animal shelter.

February 2019/Hamilton Township, New Jersey: NJ.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on a resident’s second-floor balcony with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto her leg. Authorities were called and transported her to a veterinary hospital, where the leg had to be amputated because it “was broken and bone was sticking out from the skin.” Authorities were investigating.

February 2019/Rogersville, Missouri: KY3.com reported that a cat described as an “outdoor cat” was believed to have been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat was found “lying dead in the roadway” after his or her owner was told by a neighbor that dogs were attacking the animal. Authorities were notified.

February 2019/Stanton, Michigan: WXYZ.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with an arrow through his body. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that the arrow had pierced his scapula and had been embedded in him for “several days.” A reward was being offered for information leading to an arrest, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Marion County, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that a kitten who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been injured when a teenager hit him or her with a rock. The abuse was videotaped and shared on social media. Authorities were alerted and found the kitten, who was taken to an animal shelter. The investigation was ongoing.

February 2019/Riverside, California: PE.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been heard crying under the hood of a pickup truck. Authorities were called and found her “hanging upside down” in the vehicle’s engine compartment with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto one of her legs. She was taken to an animal shelter for treatment. Authorities were investigating.

February 2019/Spokane, Washington: KXLY.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found badly injured. He was taken to an animal shelter, where it was found that he’d been shot with a pellet gun and sustained “a badly broken pelvis and a severe injury to his tail which caused a massive infection.” Despite treatment, he died. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Sanilac County, Michigan: SanilacCountyNews.MIHomePaper.com reported that a hunter had pleaded guilty to shooting a cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors, with an arrow. The animal had been shot after “bothering” the hunter “several times while he was hunting deer.” The cat returned home, was taken to a veterinary hospital, and had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries.

February 2019/Elkins, West Virginia: TheInterMountain.com reported that a homeless cat who was regularly fed by a resident had been found ill. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian said, “The cat came in to us ill and unable to stand, drooly and twitchy.” The animal was euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

February 2019/Front Royal, Virginia: NVDaily.com reported that a cat who was described as “part of a feral colony” had been taken to a veterinary office, where he or she began to show symptoms of rabies. The animal was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. The director of the Lord Fairfax Health District advised people not to leave homeless cats outdoors because those who do are “really just assisting the cats to live in a very unhealthy environment.”

February 2019/Phoenix, Arizona: 12News.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been hit and killed by a car. Authorities were called after a resident hung the cat’s body from a tree with a sign that read, “Slow Down.” The body was handed over to a humane society.

February 2019/Boise, Idaho: KATU.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured on the side of a road. He was taken to an adoption group, and an examination revealed that his eyeball had popped out of its socket. A spokesperson said, “He had significant head trauma, blood coming from the mouth. And, was just not breathing well.” He was transported to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he “had a broken jaw and had fractured one of his legs. Wire was used to realign his jaw and pins were placed in his leg.” According to the adoption group’s spokesperson, the cat “went through the equivalent of probably five to six surgeries in a very short amount of time.”

February 2019/Delta, Colorado: NBC11News.com reported that “several” homeless cats who were fed by a resident had been found dead. It wasn’t reported how they had died. The area was under development.

February 2019/Kalispell, Montana: WTHR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found by her owners “injured and buried in snow.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she arrived unresponsive, caked in ice and snow, and with a low body temperature. She was treated with heating pads and heated cages.

February 2019/Moorhead, Minnesota: ValleyNewsLive.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found on the side of a road injured and suffering from severe frostbite. A driver stopped when he saw the animal. “I was trying to convince myself it was trash or a clump of dirt or something but it looked kind of furry and had a silhouette of an animal,” he said. The cat “kind of stuck to the ground a little bit” when he was picked up and also appeared to have an injured tail. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a technician said, “You can tell by his ears they are all swelled up and red, and that’s from the frostbite.” She said that his ears and tail may have to be amputated and that the hospital has treated a lot of cats for frostbitten ears.

February 2019/Merrill, Michigan: MLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been hit by a car and died. The father of the cat’s owner was also struck and killed by a car when he was moving the animal’s body off the road.

February 2019/Columbia Falls, Montana: DailyInterLake.com reported that a resident had filed a police report after her cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, had died. She suspected that someone had poisoned the animal. She said that a neighbor’s roaming cat had also died from suspected poisoning. No suspects were identified.

February 2019/Mobile, Alabama: MyNBC15.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner witnessed the attack and said that she saw the dogs “pulling [the cat] from each end.” She said that she also saw the dogs maul a neighbor’s roaming cat, who apparently also died. Authorities were called.

February 2019/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: KOCO.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found in some bushes with an arrow protruding from the back of her leg. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

February 2019/Davenport, Iowa: KWQC.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found on a roadside in below-freezing temperatures suffering from dehydration, an upper respiratory infection, and severe frostbite. She was also emaciated and weighed just 3 pounds. She was apparently taken to an adoption group and was reportedly receiving medical care.

February 2019/Wheaton, Illinois: Patch.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found by authorities suffering from “extreme frostbite on her paws.” She was taken to a public animal shelter, where it was found that her paws had “swollen to nearly twice their size from the frostbite [and] left her in so much pain that the animal services team opted to euthanize her.” All four of her paws were frostbitten. Her toe pads were reportedly purple and showed “initial signs of gangrene.”

January 2019/Ackley, Iowa: RadioIowa.com reported that veterinarian Scott Hinders of the Ackley Veterinary Center said that cats have an especially hard time in frigid weather. “Ears can get to be frostbitten pretty easily in cats,” he said. “We’ll see a lot of outside farms cats in the spring that had frostbitten ears.” He also explained that “water bowls and tanks will freeze up,” leaving the animals without a water source.

January 2019/Houston, Texas: HoustonChronicle.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were being walked without a leash. The dogs chased the cat onto his owners’ porch, and the attack was captured on video surveillance footage. Authorities were investigating.

January 2019/Livingston County, Michigan: LivingstonDaily.com reported that at least three cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died from hypothermia during a cold snap. A resident called authorities when she saw a cat struggling in her yard. A responding animal control officer said that the cat died on the way to a veterinary hospital. An examination determined that the cause of death was hypothermia. Another resident took a cat to the shelter, where he or she also died, apparently from hypothermia. A third cat was apparently found by authorities and also died because of the freezing outdoor temperatures.

January 2019/Ringgold County, Iowa: DesMoinesRegister.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found frozen to the ground. She was taken to an animal adoption group, and “[a]ll four of her paws were stuck with a quarter-inch of ice.” In addition, she “was suffering from hypothermia and her body was mostly skin and bones.” She was given treatment, but it wasn’t clear whether her paws would have to be amputated (apparently because of frostbite and possible infection). She reportedly was also “suffering some [additional] injuries from being outside in the cold for an extended time.”

January 2019/Melbourne, Florida: FloridaToday.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found apparently exhibiting symptoms of illness. He or she was evidently euthanized and tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.

January 2019/Cedarville, New Jersey: Philadelphia.CBSLocal.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been shot with a “pistol compound crossbow arrow.” It had remained in her body for approximately four days before it was removed at a veterinary hospital. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Oconto, Wisconsin: GreenbayPressGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead four days after he or she had gone missing. The body was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian told police that he’d found two holes “near the shoulder area” “consistent with being shot with an arrow without a broad head.” A man who had been seen hunting in the area was charged with crimes related to the incident.

January 2019/Billerica, Massachusetts: Billerica.WickedLocal.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found badly injured after he had apparently been hit by a car. An animal control officer transported him to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

January 2019/Lynchburg, Virginia: WSET.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot and more than 50 pellets had become embedded in his body. He was taken to a veterinary hospital and treated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania: WPXI.com reported that “nearly a dozen” cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead in a neighborhood over a one-year period. One of them had been found badly injured with a gunshot wound and had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. Another cat hadn’t been found after going missing. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Oconee County, South Carolina: WSPA.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had bitten and scratched two residents who were trying to care for the animal. He or she was evidently euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

January 2019/Nassau County, Florida: News4JAX.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had tested positive for rabies. No additional details were available

January 2019/Platteville, Wisconsin: WKOW.com reported that the cries of an apparently homeless kitten had been heard by a police officer during subfreezing temperatures. The officer followed the cries and found the kitten in a ditch trapped under rocks and approximately 3 feet of drifted snow.  He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

January 2019/Escanaba, Michigan: DailyPress.net reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with an ear badly damaged from frostbite. She was taken to an animal shelter, where a spokesperson reportedly “said cats often lose ears because of frostbite. She said the shriveled look at the edge of old frostbite wounds are also very common.” In addition, she explained that salt frequently used to melt snow and ice can cause serious burns to the pads of animals’ feet.

January 2019/Brevard County, Florida: SpaceCoastDaily.com reported that a homeless cat who had been taken in by a resident had tested positive for rabies. No additional details were available.

January 2019/West Plains, Missouri: OzarkRadioNews.com reported that a homeless cat who was apparently taken in by a family “began acting strangely and was taken to a local veterinarian.” The cat was evidently euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Five family members required post-exposure rabies treatment, and the family’s two cats had to be euthanized.

January 2019/Barnwell, South Carolina: AikenStandard.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had bitten two people before evidently being taken to an animal shelter. The cat was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The two residents received post-exposure rabies treatment.

January 2019/Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: FOX43.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the animal died. It was believed that the cat had been shot with a pellet gun. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Lake Worth, Florida: Local10.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had gone missing. She was found 18 days later under her owner’s home with severe injuries. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was discovered that she’d been shot with a pellet gun. A pellet had hit her spine and injured her vertebrae, leaving her back legs paralyzed. Authorities reportedly told the owner that other companion animals in the area had sustained similar injuries. They were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Washington City, Utah: ABC4.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with a blowgun dart through his body. His owner said that when she found him, he was “howling” with pain. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the dart was removed. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Frederick County, Maryland: WJLA.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found showing signs of illness. Authorities transported her to a shelter or veterinary hospital, where she was euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

January 2019/Salem, Ohio: SalemNews.net reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead. The animal’s owner said that when she was burying the body, she saw what she believed was a broken leg that appeared to have been caused by a gunshot. A report was filed with authorities.

January 2019/Kaycee, Wyoming: NBCNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been diagnosed with plague. He or she was the third cat diagnosed with the bacterial infection in recent months. It wasn’t reported whether they survived. Symptoms of the deadly infection in companion animals “can include enlarged lymph glands, swelling, fever, chills, tiredness, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

January 2019/Hyde Park, New York: DailyFreeman.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home “soaked in what was believed to be gasoline or kerosene, as well as antifreeze.” He or she had sustained “major skin irritation from the chemicals” and was under observation for symptoms of poisoning. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Menlo Park, California: NBCBayArea.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found “completely comatose.” She was taken to an animal shelter, where she “had intermittent seizures” for days. Veterinary staff treated her for bromethalin poisoning. A shelter spokesperson said, “Because of the poison, [she] has sight impairment and will likely never be a neurologically normal cat.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified.

January 2019/South Corning, New York: WENY.com reported that three homeless cats had been found dead, with blood coming from their mouths, and a fourth had been found ill at a site where a group had trapped, sterilized, and abandoned them along with other cats. Poisoning was reportedly suspected. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified.

January 2019/Pasadena, Texas: NBC4I.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home with a screwdriver protruding from his head. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian reportedly said that it appeared that someone had held him down and stabbed him. He received treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Greer, South Carolina: WYFF4.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home and collapsed. His owner said that he’d “been shot in the stomach and was losing a lot of blood.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he underwent “surgery to remove his gallbladder and spleen and to close the wounds left by the bullet.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

January 2019/Bay City, Michigan: MLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been carried home by a neighbor. The cat was reportedly “panting heavily, had a swollen face, and bore obvious injuries to her tongue, torso, and at least one leg.” Authorities were called and visited the neighbor’s apartment, where they “found a bloody hammer in a sink and a pair of scissors lying in blood on the kitchen floor.” The neighbor was reportedly intoxicated and said, “She attacked me first. I was in my own home and I have a right to defend myself.” The woman was taken to a hospital and treated for animal bites before she was taken to jail on a cruelty-to-animals charge. The cat had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries.

January 2019/Feeding Hills, Massachusetts: NewsOn6.com reported that a cat who was described as “an outdoor cat” had been found unable to move on the side of a road. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot in the neck and a bullet had gone into “a muscle cavity pressing against his spine and nerves.” His owner said that he was “not really moving. His left eye, the pupil is kind of pushed up.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. WesternMassNews.com later reported that the cat had died.

January 2019/Jacksonville Beach, Florida: ActionNewsJAX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been “found collapsed in the backyard.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays showed that he’d been shot and 14 pellets remained lodged in his head and neck. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.

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