The Great Outdoors? Not for Cats! 2022
Some animal shelters manipulate their euthanasia statistics by instituting policies that leave animals to struggle for survival and die painfully on the streets. So-called “trap-neuter-release” (TNR) programs—or, more accurately, “trap-neuter-reabandon” programs—may allow limited-admission shelters to spin their intake and euthanasia numbers, but they do nothing to protect cats from the horrors that befall them when left outdoors to battle harsh surroundings, sickness, and sadistic people.
Countless cats who are left outdoors without protection die from infected wounds and injuries, as even small abscesses and common urinary tract infections can become raging and deadly for unsocialized cats who cannot be handled and treated. Cats outdoors are vulnerable to contagious diseases, parasite infestations, starvation, dehydration, freezing, heatstroke, attacks by dogs and other predators, and being hit by vehicles. Cruel people often poison, shoot, burn, drown, or otherwise torture and kill cats.
Right or wrong, many property and business owners do not want cats on their property. Not everyone loves cats or wants them climbing on their cars, maiming or killing birds, or digging in their gardens. When animal shelters refuse to accept cats (as more and more so-called “no kill” facilities are doing), property owners often take matters into their own hands and resort to cruelty, both intentional and unintentional.
So many people become upset by roaming cats that legislation was introduced in Wisconsin and Utah to make it legal to stalk, hunt, and kill domestic cats! The bills failed, thanks to an outcry from animal activists and compassionate citizens, but that these bills were introduced at all should serve as a wake-up call for those who claim to care about cats—they are not safe outdoors.
Because of the many deadly hazards that cats face outdoors, responsible guardians allow their feline companions outdoors only when on a leash, in an enclosed area (such as a screened porch), or closely supervised.
Below is just a sampling of some of the horrible fates that have recently 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.
December 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Madison, New Jersey
Original.Newsbreak.com reported that after being taken to an animal adoption group by an unknown individual, an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized tested positive for rabies. Authorities were trying to identify the person who turned the cat in. No additional information was available.
Clarkesville, Georgia
NowHabersham.com reported that a homeless kitten had been observed “stumbling around.” Authorities were called, and a responding animal control officer was able to contain the animal, who was transported to an animal shelter, where he or she was found to be exhibiting symptoms of rabies. The kitten was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. According to the report, “[A] canine at the residence [where the kitten had been found] had consumed some food that had been placed out for the kitten.” The dog was vaccinated and so was given a booster vaccination and had to be quarantined for 45 days.
Livonia, New York
FingerLakes1.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by a rabid raccoon. No additional information was available.
Goldsboro, North Carolina
CBS17.com reported that an individual had been bitten by a homeless cat. Responding authorities captured the cat, who later died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
CBSNews.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
KRQE.com reported that several homeless cats in a neighborhood had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming outdoors without supervision. One cat had been killed by the dogs in March. A resident said that the dogs had “killed three more cats since then, including one yesterday and another one last week.” One of the homeless cats had reportedly been “partly blind and deaf.” It wasn’t known whether the dogs were owned. No additional information was available.
Powell, Tennessee
WBIR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been stuck approximately 100 feet up in a tree for two weeks. According to the report, during that time “temperatures dipped below freezing, and a snowstorm swept through [the area].” A tree service reportedly “tried to rescue him three times” and “said the cold weather and the location of the cat prevented them from helping him faster.” The service was eventually able to reach and contain the cat, who was returned to his owner. According to the report, the owner was “preparing” to take him to a veterinary medical hospital.
Muskegon, Michigan
KING5.com reported that a homeless cat had been found frozen to the ground “after a massive winter storm.” A good Samaritan took him to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that “his body temperature was only 94 degrees and his eyes had crusted shut from the cold.” (A cat’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees.) WZZM13.com later reported that after two weeks of treatment, the cat died after he’d “suffered a saddle thrombosis that paralyzed him.”
Lawrence, Massachusetts
EagleTribune.com reported that a homeless kitten had sustained injuries after he’d become stuck inside the tire of a vehicle. He was taken to an animal shelter, where veterinary staff amputated two badly injured toes. He survived.
Millbrook, Alabama
ElmoreAutaugaNews.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found on a golf course, “frozen to and hanging from a storm drain grate.” Authorities with the police and fire departments responded to a call and used warm water to remove her from the grate. She had apparently not yet received veterinary medical attention. No additional information was available.
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
GlobalNews.ca reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found frozen to the pavement on the side of a road. He was taken to an animal adoption group, where he received treatment for an upper respiratory infection and multiple surgeries to amputate the tips of his ears, which were badly damaged from frostbite. He was expected to survive.
Winder, Georgia
MainStreetNews.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. One person had been exposed to the virus. No additional information was available.
Stanton, Michigan
WZZM13.com reported that a homeless cat had sustained serious injuries after a vehicle engine in which she’d taken refuge had been started. She was taken to an animal adoption group, where a spokesperson said that one leg and a toe on another leg had to be amputated. She was expected to survive.
New York, New York
ILoveTheUpperWestSide.com reported that a sick homeless cat had been found near a public school. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he’d been shot with a BB gun. Three BB pellets were reportedly lodged in his body, resulting in a possible collapsed lung and heart damage. He was receiving treatment. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Conneaut, Ohio
Cleveland19.com reported that a homeless cat had been found badly injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that he’d been shot, resulting in the bone in a leg being “completely shattered and irreparable.” An animal adoption group was reportedly trying to raise funds to have the leg amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Boston, Massachusetts
BostonHerald.com reported that a sick homeless cat had been found outside a residence. Authorities were called, and responding officers noted that the animal was “exhibiting neurologic behavior.” The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he evidently had to be euthanized. Testing confirmed that he’d been suffering from rabies. No additional information was available.
Kempner, Texas
KWTX.com reported that an unspecified number of cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked, some fatally, by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Other animals and humans had reportedly also been attacked by the dogs. Authorities were notified. It wasn’t known whether anyone owned the dogs.
Oakland County, Michigan
Michigan.gov reported that a homeless kitten had been taken in by a good Samaritan. Approximately six weeks later, the animal “was taken to a veterinary practice when [he or she] was not eating or drinking and was acting aggressively and unable to use [his or her] hind limbs. The kitten became progressively more ill and was humanely euthanized.” Testing revealed that the kitten had been rabid. No additional information was available.
Las Vegas, Nevada
KTNV.com reported that residents in a neighborhood had noted that “an unusual number” of cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had gone missing over the previous “several months.” One of the cats had been found “deathly ill” miles from home. The animal was taken to an animal shelter, where he had to be euthanized because he was in such bad shape. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Cedar County, Iowa
TheGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had gone missing in October. His owner said she heard a cat crying the day after he went missing but couldn’t find the animal. The next day, she said that she had found her cat with an arrow through his body. He was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and survived. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
De Baca County, New Mexico
KOAT.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
November 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Waterbury, Connecticut
KTVZ.com reported that an unspecified number of cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been injured or killed in a neighborhood. Their injuries reportedly suggested that they may have been beaten. One of the animals was found with a broken jaw. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he received surgery and was undergoing additional treatments, according to a woman who was caring for him. Another cat was found, apparently dead, with what appeared to be blunt force trauma injuries to the head. A woman who saw the cat’s body said it was “[v]ery gruesome … like somebody smashed his head.” Authorities were investigating one case that had been officially reported, but no suspects were identified.
Springfield, Missouri
OzarksFirst.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “badly injured after being outside all day,” according to the owner. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot and wouldn’t survive. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
DailyItem.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot to death. His body was found in the woods near the owner’s home. Authorities reported that a veterinarian who had performed a necropsy on the animal’s body “determined that the bullet entered [the cat’s] side, punctured the lung and exited through the opposite side of the body [and that he] died from internal hemorrhaging caused by a single gunshot wound.” According to the report, “The Pennsylvania Game Commission determined the projectile to be a .22 caliber round, according to police.” The suspect reportedly told authorities that “he intended to take ‘a pop shot at this cat to scare [him] away.’” According to the report, “Asked if [he] had any particular reason to shoot at the cat, [the suspect] said, ‘… I’ve been seeing [him] for a few months now, and I’ve seen [he’s] gotten a bunny already,’ according to court documents.”
Gilroy, California
NBCBayArea.com reported that residents in three adjacent neighborhoods said that “they’ve been finding burnt animals, both domestic and wild. One woman said her son’s kitten was so badly tortured, they had to put her down.” The kitten had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. She returned home injured and was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the owner said that it had been determined that “[s]he had a lot of trauma to the face, but it wasn’t the main cause of her injuries …. The biggest problem and the reason we had to put her down was someone had cut her tongue all the way back at the base.” Burn marks were reportedly also found inside her mouth. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Lindenwold, New Jersey
NJ1015.com reported that “a sick, stray cat” found by a resident had been taken to an animal hospital, where it was determined that the animal was exhibiting signs of rabies. The cat was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. The resident was reportedly advised to “speak to their physician” about receiving post-exposure treatment.
Corsica, Pennsylvania
WTAJ.com reported that a man was facing cruelty-to-animals charges after drowning a homeless kitten and attempting to drown another one. According to the report, he “admitted that he attempted to drown both kittens in a bucket near a shed according to court documents. [The accused] told police it was more humane to drown them rather than let them starve because he believed they were strays and had no mother.” A third kitten was reportedly found crying outside a neighbor’s home. Both surviving kittens were taken to an animal adoption group. According to the report, the man was “facing a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals that resulted in death, as well as two misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals.”
Town ’n’ Country, Florida
FOX13News.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” group “said seven cats in a Town ’n’ Country neighborhood have been shot with a pellet gun in the last year and a half. Of those [who] were shot, three ended up dead.” A woman who fed cats in the area reportedly said that one of the animals had been shot “several times” and sustained “a broken front leg, and might have to have a back leg amputated.” She said that so many cats have been harmed in the area that “it has become a blur of cats [who] have died or are injured.” WFLA.com later reported that a man had admitted to authorities that he had shot “multiple cats in the area.” He was reportedly “charged with aggravated cruelty to animals with a weapon.”
Washington County, Tennessee
WJHL.com reported that an animal shelter had announced that a cat had been brought to it after a woman rescued the animal “from ‘teenage boys kicking and abusing’ him.” As a result of the abuse, the cat had reportedly “sustained several fractures to his rear leg and had to have surgery to remove it.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been alerted. No additional information was available.
McMinnville, Oregon
CBS58.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found with an arrow sticking out of her body. She was taken to an animal adoption group, where she received medical treatment. According to a spokesperson for the group, the arrow tore muscles in one of the kitten’s legs and she was expected to survive. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Lawrence, Massachusetts
WCVB.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto a leg. He or she was apparently taken to an animal shelter for care, and the leg was so badly injured that it was determined that it would have to be amputated. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Pomona, California
NBCLosAngeles.com reported that a homeless cat who had been fed with others at a business had been shot and stabbed to death. Video surveillance footage reportedly showed the cat in the business’s parking lot when two men drove up and shot her with a pellet or BB gun. The video footage reportedly showed that while she was “lying helpless on the ground, two men hop[ped] the fence and start[ed] taking pictures.” One of the men then appeared to use a knife to stab the animal “repeatedly while the other recorded it.” Authorities were investigating. FOXLA.com later reported that two people had been arrested in connection with the case. No additional information was available.
Live Oak, Florida
WCTV.tv reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Mount Holly, North Carolina
WCCBCharlotte.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked a resident. Authorities captured the animal, who was apparently euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The resident and others in the area were notified. No additional information was available.
Jacksonville, Florida
FirstCoastNews.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead in a dumpster. One of them had reportedly been mutilated, and more cats who were allowed to roam unsupervised in the area were missing. A resident said that surveillance footage had captured one of the killings, which showed a man “luring a cat to come towards him, grabbing the cat, and then putting all his weight on the animal.” The man was then seen “pick[ing] up the lifeless cat in a white tarp and walk[ing] away.” News4JAX.com reported that a resident had “identified 21 cats [who] have gone missing from the same area over the past year.” FirstCoastNews.com later reported that authorities had arrested a suspect “on charges of animal cruelty and petit theft.”
Rapid City, South Dakota
BlackHillsFOX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home “screaming” and bleeding, then collapsed and died. According to the report, he had been shot with a pellet gun. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Brunswick County, North Carolina
Newsweek.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had attacked his or her owner. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he or she was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. According to the report, the cat had been “injured during an encounter with an ‘unspecified wild animal’ earlier” that month and his or her rabies vaccination was not up to date. The owner received post-exposure treatment.
Houston, Texas
FOX26Houston.com reported that six homeless cats had been found dead from apparent poisoning in a neighborhood. One resident who had been feeding homeless cats said she found three of them dead in one day. Another resident returned home from a vacation to find two dead and decomposing cats on his property after he was “greeted by a stink.” No additional information was available.
Kailua, Hawaii
KTVZ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home “moaning” and badly injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that he’d been shot with a BB gun and was bleeding internally. He evidently underwent surgery but didn’t survive. No additional information was available.
Butler County, Kentucky
WNKY.com reported that two homeless cats had been found badly injured and were taken to an animal shelter. One of them had reportedly been “shot clean through with an arrow,” and a steel-jaw trap was clamped onto the other’s leg, which had to be amputated. Both cats underwent surgery and were expected to survive. No additional information was available.
East Alton, Illinois
TheTelegraph.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals after it was alleged that he’d intentionally and repeatedly run over a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, killing the animal. No additional information was available.
Edgefield County, South Carolina
WLTX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been chased up a tree by an unspecified number of dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised, and had then been unable to climb down. After five days, workers with the county’s emergency medical services and fire departments were able to retrieve the cat, who was described as “emaciated.” She was returned to her owner.
Rushville, New York
RochesterFirst.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with serious injuries after she’d apparently been hit by a car. Two people told authorities that they saw a post about the animal on social media and had taken the cat to their home. Authorities reportedly said that after keeping the injured animal overnight, one of the individuals had put her in a freezer “in an attempt to euthanize her. Family members later found the cat and told investigators she appeared to be alive at the time, but they were not able to save her. The cat remained in the freezer after she died.” Both individuals were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.
Granite Falls, North Carolina
WCCBCharlotte.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. Two people exposed to the animal were receiving post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Rougemont, North Carolina
PersonCountyLife.com reported that a homeless cat had been taken to an animal shelter after he or she had been found “showing signs of neurological issues and aggression, and had bitten two people.” The cat was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Orange County, Florida
FOX35Orlando.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
OKCFOX.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 attack was captured on video surveillance footage. The cat’s owner said the video showed that the dogs each grabbed one end of the animal and then “[t]hey tussle[d] [the cat] around and [left] the remains all over the yard.” Some neighbors reportedly said the dogs had killed additional companion animals in the area. No additional information was available.
October 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
LexingtonChronicle.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. A person who was exposed to the animal was referred to a healthcare provider for post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Columbus, Ohio
10TV.com reported that three cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in a neighborhood had been found dead and two others were missing. One of the animal’s owners said she found her cat dead in the middle of the street in front of her house: “His eyes were totally out, his mouth was open, and the tongue was out,” she said. Another owner said that two of her cats appeared to have been killed. One had been found with injuries that appeared to be from “either a blunt force or like somebody beat her or it was a bullet hole.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Orlando, Florida
FOX35Orlando.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and was described by his or her owner as “the neighborhood cat” had been attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. A neighbor’s security camera reportedly “caught it all on video.” The cat’s owner said that when she went outside to investigate “some sort of scuffling,” she saw the dog with the dead cat in his or her mouth. Authorities were notified.
High Point, North Carolina
Greensboro.com reported that an apparently homeless cats who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Palm Springs North, Florida
WSVN.com reported that five cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Two of the attacks had been captured on video surveillance footage, which showed the dogs chasing the cats under cars before dragging them out and killing them. Authorities were notified and issued citations to the dogs’ owner.
North Lauderdale, Florida
WSVN.com reported that a homeless cat who had apparently been fed by a resident had been found “struggling to walk and in pain.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that she’d been shot, shattering bones in one of her legs and leaving a bullet lodged in her chest. She underwent surgery, which included the amputation of the leg, and was expected to survive. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Jackson, Michigan
WILX.com reported that a public animal shelter had announced that it had taken in two kittens, both of whom had both been “shot with a shotgun, which shattered a leg on each cat.” According to the report, the kittens were receiving veterinary treatment and were scheduled to have their injured legs amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Woodbridge, New Jersey
MSN.com reported that a homeless cat who was apparently part of a “colony” of cats being fed in a residential neighborhood had been found appearing “sick and … acting in an abnormal manner.” Authorities were called, and the cat was captured and euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Two residents had reportedly been bitten or scratched by the animal and were advised to seek immediate post-exposure treatment. The state health department advised animal control officials to capture and remove the homeless cat “colony” because all the animals had potentially been exposed.
Jacksonville, North Carolina
WCTI12.com reported that one of two dogs who were roaming outdoors without supervision had attacked a child as he was boarding a school bus. The second dog had attacked and killed three cats, who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. The bus driver and several neighbors intervened to stop the attack on the child, and authorities impounded both dogs. No additional information was available.
Franklin, Ohio
WSET.com reported that a homeless kitten had been tortured and killed by the building manager of an apartment building. According to a witness, the man bashed the kitten’s head against a table and a concrete column and used his fist to grind the animal’s head onto the porch. He then allegedly put a chain around the apparently dead animal’s neck. When asked why he did it, the suspect said in an interview, “I couldn’t take a chance because [the kitten] would track poop in the building.” He was charged with cruelty to animals.
New Stanton, Pennsylvania
TribLive.com reported that a cat who was described as an “indoor/outdoor cat” had been found with an arrow protruding from his back. According to the report, the arrow had entered his back and come out through his chest. He was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment and was expected to survive. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
West Hartford, Connecticut
Patch.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured after he’d been hit by a car. Authorities transported him to a veterinary hospital for treatment. No additional information was available.
Forestport, New York
CNYCentral.com reported that an apparently homeless, rabid cat had exposed five people and six dogs and cats to the virus before the animal had died or been euthanized. A cat who was exposed had apparently never been vaccinated and so was euthanized. According to the report, “Two other animals were not up to date with their rabies vaccines and are now in quarantine for six months.” The other people and animals who were exposed required post-exposure treatment.
Clinton County, Michigan
FOX47News.com reported that an apparently homeless female cat had been found with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto a leg. Authorities were called and removed the device. The cat was then taken to an animal adoption group, where it was found that the trap’s jaws had penetrated “down to the tendon” and that the leg had become badly infected. She underwent surgery to have the leg amputated and survived. No additional information was available.
Orangevale, California
ABC10.com reported that authorities were investigating after “multiple mutilated” cats had been found in an area. According to the report, two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were missing. The animals’ owner notified authorities after doorbell surveillance footage showed a man walk up a driveway, grab one of the cats, and walk away with the animal. The cat could reportedly be heard crying in the video. CBSNews.com reported that more than 12 cats in the area had gone missing or been found dead. A resident reportedly described the doorbell surveillance footage: “You see him walking up to a cat and a cat screeching, you hear a snap, and then no more screeching.” That cat was reportedly later found dead. WSBTV.com later reported that a suspect had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals and petty theft in connection with the case.
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
TimesLeader.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals after he allegedly used a pellet gun to shoot a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. According to the report, “[P]olice and firefighters recovered a deceased cat from a tree in the area …. A necropsy, similar to an autopsy, showed the cat was shot seven times and a pellet was recovered from [his or her] spine during the procedure.” According to the report, court records revealed that the suspect “admitted to using a pellet gun to shoot” the animal.
September 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Gainesville, Georgia
GainesvilleTimes.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized tested positive for rabies. The cat had reportedly exposed two people to the virus. No additional information was available.
Hunterdon, New Jersey
DailyVoice.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized tested positive for rabies. According to the report, the cat had been friendly and had delivered a litter of kittens about four weeks before her death. No additional information was available.
North Catasauqua Borough, Pennsylvania
DailyVoice.com reported that authorities had received a report from a resident who said that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. In addition, the dogs had attacked a human in the area. The dogs’ owner was identified, and authorities were reportedly working to have the animals declared dangerous.
Belchertown, Massachusetts
WesternMassNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home with a hole in his body and “covered in blood.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a pellet from a high-powered pellet gun was found in his abdomen. He underwent “multiple procedures” and was expected to survive. According to the report, his family said that “after this incident, he’s strictly an indoor cat.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Everett, Washington
Q13FOX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the eye with a pellet gun by someone driving by in a car. Authorities were called, and they identified a suspect they believed was involved in “a similar incident earlier in the year.” The person “eventually admitted to driving in the area and shooting a pellet gun from his car, police say.” He was charged with “first-degree animal cruelty and second-degree malicious mischief.” The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment and was expected to survive.
Town of Harford, New York
WXHC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured inside a box trap at a mobile home park. According to the report, he “was found to be shot in the face and head, but was still alive” and his owner didn’t have the resources for necessary veterinary care. Authorities were called, and the cat was transported to a veterinary hospital for treatment. He was reportedly “stable, but lost the use of one eye as the result of the gunshot.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Whatcom County, Washington
BellinghamHerald.com reported that authorities were advising residents to keep cats indoors “after a couple of recent cat deaths in the area.” No additional information was available.
West Deptford, New Jersey
FOX29.com reported that a man had been arrested after he was seen in footage from a doorbell camera abusing an apparently homeless cat at an apartment complex. According to authorities, the footage “shows a man picking up the cat over his head and violently throwing [the animal] onto the concrete floor several times. Then, the man is seen leaving the area for a brief time, leaving the injured cat lying on the ground, according to officials. After returning a short time later, police say the man picked up the cat and threw [him or her] out of camera view.” The cat was found alive “in a dumpster, suffering extensive injuries.” He or she was reportedly turned over to animal control authorities for medical care and was “being monitored by medical staff, according to officials.” The man was charged with cruelty to animals.
Greenville, Alabama
AlabamaPublicHealth.gov reported that a homeless kitten had been “found on a resident’s porch, and presumed to be a part of a nearby feral cat colony. The resident had been caring for the abandoned animal, approximately 8-weeks-old, when residents were bitten. The kitten became very ill and died a few days afterwards.” Testing revealed that the kitten had been rabid. The residents were reportedly seeking medical treatment.
Denton, North Carolina
MyFOX8.com reported that a resident had found an injured kitten on their property who was believed to be “from a litter of feral cats in the area.” The kitten was taken to a veterinary hospital and received treatment. Approximately one week later, the animal was reportedly found exhibiting “‘odd behavior’ and a change in temperament.” He or she was taken back to the veterinary hospital and evidently euthanized. Testing revealed that the kitten had rabies. According to the report, “All people who may have been in contact with the kitten have been notified and have started preventative measures against rabies.”
Tallmadge, Ohio
WTRF.com reported that a homeless cat had been seen wandering around an apartment complex with an empty jar stuck on her head. Concerned individuals reportedly made many attempts “to capture the feral cat, including live traps and drop traps, but none were successful.” A man was eventually able to capture the animal with a net, and she was taken to receive medical care. It was believed that the jar had been stuck on her head for several days. According to the report, she “was a new mother and the entire time the jar was placed over her head, several kittens chased after her as they tried to nurse. Those kittens are now in the hands of local humane society.”
Johnson City, Tennessee
WJHL.com reported that a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had sustained a fractured pelvis and a large hernia after a cow stepped on him. He was taken to an animal adoption group, which was trying to raise funds for needed surgery. No additional information was available.
Orange, Massachusetts
Recorder.com reported that a homeless cat who had been fed with many others in a colony had become ill with symptoms of rabies. The animal was euthanized and tested positive for the virus. No additional information was available.
Hicksville, New York
Patch.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been missing for days before she was found crying under a bush. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she died. It was found that she’d been shot twice. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania
PennLive.com reported that a homeless cat who had been fed at a housing complex by a self-professed animal “rescue” group had been found shot to death. According to a spokesperson for the group, the animal was found with “an entrance wound on [his or her] side and no exit wound.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Akron, Colorado
AkronNewsReporter.com reported that authorities had received a report from a resident that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. The dogs were impounded, and their owner was cited. No additional information was available.
Scioto County, Ohio
SciotoCountyDailyNews.com reported that authorities had received a report from a resident that an unspecified number of cats she had apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by a neighbor’s dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. No additional information was available.
Branch, Michigan
ShorelineMedia.net reported that a man had been “sentenced to 12 months [of] probation and two days in jail, and was given credit for time served, on a charge of killing/torturing animals, second degree” for shooting to death a neighbor’s cat—who the owner described as “an inside and outside” cat—the previous spring. According to the report, the cat’s owner “said that the cat didn’t die right away and that [the defendant] had put [the cat] in the trunk of his car to go take [her] and dump [her] in the river. He took actions to cover up what he did.” The cat was reportedly on a fence when she was shot, and the defendant admitted to police that he had shot the animal.
Henderson, Kentucky
14News.com reported that authorities said that an apparently homeless kitten had been “found suffering with a missing eye.” The kitten was transported to a public animal shelter, where he or she “died over the weekend.” According to the report, “Officials say they believe [the kitten] was shot with a BB gun, and they say it’s been happening to many others.” No suspects were identified, and no additional information was available.
Albany County, Wyoming
WyomingNewsNow.tv reported that a cat who “lived primarily outdoors or in outbuildings” had died and tested positive for plague. According to the report, “Other cats in a group at the same location have also died during the past several months, indicating likely spread of plague.”
San Juan Island, Washington
SanJuanIslander.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked and killed by an unspecified number of roaming dogs. According to the report, “The dogs were located by the cat owner and turned over to the person who was care taking them. The cat was later found deceased.” Authorities took a report.
Tell City, Indiana
DuboisCountyHerald.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he’d been hit by a car and that “his upper femur” had to be removed. He had to be kept in a cage for two weeks and was expected to take months to recover.
August 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Maui County, Hawaii
MauiNews.com reported that charges had been dismissed against a woman who had captured a neighbor’s roaming cat in a trap and abandoned him at a public park. According to the report, the woman had first trapped the cat and taken him to an animal shelter, which returned him to the owner. He was later trapped a second time and abandoned “near the … restrooms” at a park. Eleven days later, he was found in a road by a good Samaritan after he’d been hit by a car. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had to be euthanized because of the severity of the injuries he’d sustained. According to the report, “In granting the defense request to dismiss the charge … Judge Kelsey Kawano said the animal desertion statute ‘is overbroad.’ … ‘It interferes with a person’s constitutional right to use and enjoy one’s property,’ he said.”
Hayden, Idaho
CDAPress.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found injured. He was taken to an animal adoption group, where a spokesperson said that he had sustained “severe injuries to his face. He has a puncture wound under his left eye, his top teeth are missing, his mouth has injuries. A tooth fell out while we were first holding him.” He was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital, “where he was given medication and fed through a tube.” It was believed that he’d been “attacked by a small animal,” and he was expected to undergo weeks of treatment.
Patchogue, New York
Patch.com reported that a homeless cat, who had apparently been sterilized, ear-tipped, and abandoned outdoors had been found paralyzed and trapped inside a resident’s pool filter. She may have fallen “out of a tree, hurt [her] back and stumbled into the pool.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where “the veterinarian diagnosed the cat with a severed spinal cord, muscle wasting, and broken paws.” She was mercifully euthanized.
Barnhart, Missouri
MyLeaderPaper.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found by a resident who said that the animal was “full of ticks and fleas and had a bacterial infection from eating anything she could scrounge up.” The resident adopted her and urged people to spay and neuter their animals.
Leesport, Pennsylvania
BerksWeekly.com reported that a homeless cat and kitten had been found dead with “wounds of unknown origin” near a colony of homeless cats. The adult cat had reportedly attacked a resident before entering a storm drain, where he or she died. The bodies of both animals were tested for rabies, and the adult tested positive. Authorities were reportedly “assess[ing]” the colony. ReadingEagle.com reported that the rabid cat had been found injured and that the woman who was attacked had been trying to help the animal. According to the report, “The cat died about 15 minutes after the attack and tested positive for rabies.”
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Progress-Index.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had attacked a resident before the animal, who had died or been euthanized, tested positive for rabies. WRIC.com reported that the city of Petersburg had been “placed under a ‘Rabies Alert’” and that “the cat is likely to have come in contact with numerous other animals.”
Parsippany, New Jersey
Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Franklinton, Louisiana
Era-Leader.com reported that an injured homeless kitten had been seen with a plastic drink container lid around one of her legs. Workers at a library said it took them weeks to capture the kitten and take her to a veterinary hospital, where staff reportedly “expected the kitten to need surgery to heal the deep wounds and to lose her front right paw due to the damage from the plastic.” She was receiving treatment.
Durham, North Carolina
DukeChronicle.com reported that a homeless cat being fed at a university campus had been hit and killed by a car.
Springfield, Missouri
KY3.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found with partially paralyzed rear legs. She was taken to an animal adoption group, which took her to a veterinary hospital. A spokesperson for the group said that X-rays revealed that the kitten had been shot and that a bullet remained lodged in her spine, causing paralysis and incontinence. She was reportedly being given “specialized treatments,” and the group had to ask for donations to pay for them. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Brunswick, Georgia
News4JAX.com reported that a homeless cat had scratched two people before the animal, who had died or been euthanized, tested positive for rabies. The people who were exposed were referred to their healthcare providers for post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Dover, Delaware
WMDT.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead after she’d apparently been beaten to death with a broken shovel handle, which was found lying on her body. According to the cat’s owner, her body had been found in an area where “quite a few different people” had been feeding homeless cats on a neighboring property. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Lafayette, Louisiana
TheAdvocate.com reported that a man had died after he’d been hit by a vehicle while trying to help a cat—who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision—who had been found injured in a roadway. No additional information was available
Port Orange, Florida
WESH.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Des Moines, Iowa
KCCI.com reported that an Iowa animal adoption group had imported a homeless cat who had apparently been shot in Kansas. According to the report, “A veterinarian in Kansas believes [the] cat was shot in the face. [His] jaw doesn’t line up correctly, one eardrum appears to be ruptured and his teeth will have to be removed.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified, but no suspects were identified.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
KRQE.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found after he’d been shot. His owner said the animal was found “in a pool of blood and the way he was [lying there,] I could tell that he had been shot.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Neopit, Wisconsin
WSAW.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured in a resident’s yard. According to the report, a police statement said that “[t]he cat reportedly was doused in gasoline and someone had set fire to the cat.” He or she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries sustained. Authorities were asking anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified.
Fairfield Township, Ohio
TimesReporter.com reported that authorities had received a report from a resident who said that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital. No additional information was available.
Stephens County, Texas
BigCountryHomepage.com reported that a cat who was described as “an ‘outside’ cat,” had bitten his or her owner and then been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Main Township, Pennsylvania
WNEP.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with a pellet gun. The animal was reportedly expected to survive. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Branford, Connecticut
NBCConnecticut.com reported that a kitten who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been taken to an animal shelter after she was found with severe injuries. According to the report, “[S]he had multiple wounds all over her body, including a serious injury to her abdomen that was likely a bite from a large dog. The shelter said the bite had punctured the kitten’s intestines and caused a septic abdomen.” She underwent surgery, during which it was found that her small intestine was “so damaged that over two-thirds of it had to be removed.” She was expected to survive.
Oak Forest, Illinois
Patch.com reported that residents in one neighborhood said that two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had recently been found dead. According to the report, “A grey tabby cat found deceased a week earlier appeared young, thin, and some surmised [the cat’s] death could have been heat-related.” A woman who fed homeless cats in the area reportedly “said there have also been reports of missing feral colony cats.” It wasn’t known how the cats had died. No additional information was available.
Madison County, Georgia
MainStreetNews.com reported that two apparently homeless cats who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
July 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Duluth, Minnesota
FOX21Online.com reported that in May a pregnant, homeless cat had been found badly burned. A resident said that the animal had been found roaming in a mobile home park and wouldn’t go into a box trap for “three to four days” after she’d been seen with injuries. She apparently received medical treatment, had five kittens, and was expected to survive. It wasn’t known how she’d been burned.
Delray Beach, Florida
WSVN.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found trapped in a storm drain. After six days of efforts by individuals and fire rescue personnel, the animal was captured and taken to a veterinary hospital. No additional information was available.
Oxford, Mississippi
News.Yahoo.com reported that authorities had arrested a man after he allegedly posted videos on social media that showed him killing four apparently homeless kittens near an apartment complex. He was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. No additional information was available.
Holden, Louisiana
BRProud.com reported that a homeless cat had been found in a roadway dead from a gunshot wound to the head. According to the report, “It is believed that the cat was part of a colony living in the area.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been notified, but no suspects were identified.
Brandon, Florida
TampaBay.com reported that a kitten had been “found with injuries resulting in paralysis of both his hind legs. Unable to walk, he was forced to drag himself around by his front two legs.” He was taken to an animal adoption group, which flew the animal to a home in Massachusetts, where he reportedly got a wheelchair and was receiving veterinary treatment, including laser therapy and acupuncture. It wasn’t known how he had been injured.
Galt, California
GaltHeraldOnline.com reported that a resident had found a sick homeless cat. The animal was taken to a public animal shelter, where euthanasia was necessary because of the severity of the animal’s condition. No additional information was available.
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
PAHomepage.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Corpus Christi, Texas: Caller.com reported that a homeless cat had been seen on a bridge. A driver who stopped to provide aid called authorities after the animal ran under her car and couldn’t be reached. A responding police officer was bitten while retrieving the cat. According to authorities, the officer then released the animal, who ran to a ledge on the bridge and jumped into a river. Efforts to locate the cat were unsuccessful. According to the report, “The [police department news] release said the officer received seven shots for rabies prevention, as the cat appeared to be diseased and feral.”
Oakland, New Jersey
DailyVoice.com reported that a homeless cat had been found crying and with large portions of skin stripped from his neck. An animal adoption group was called and confined the cat but apparently couldn’t afford the veterinary care he needed, so it was asking for donations. No additional information was available.
Lincoln, Nebraska
JournalStar.com reported that the head of a cat, who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and had been missing, had been found on a grill at a neighborhood park. Authorities searched for the animal’s body but weren’t able to locate it. It wasn’t known how the cat had died. No additional information was available.
Davie, Florida
WSVN.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. After health officials issued a 60-day rabies alert, a local resident reportedly said she was very concerned: “There’s a lot of stray cats out there, and I have a 2-year-old that likes to pet them.” No additional information was available. Local10.com later reported that the rabies alert had been extended to 120 days after a second homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Rock Hill, South Carolina
WCNC.com reported that authorities had received a complaint about water “draining from a vacant unit into the apartment below.” When responding officers arrived, they reported seeing a man exit the vacant apartment holding a kitten and a pair of scissors and “saw fresh wounds on the kitten where half of the ears were cut off.” The man was arrested and issued a warrant for ill treatment of animals. HeraldOnline.com reported that authorities allowed a neighbor to take the injured kitten. The neighbor reportedly told authorities that he or she would take the animal for treatment the next day. No additional information was available.
New Hempstead, New York
RocklandTimes.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Danville, Pennsylvania
NorthCentralPA.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found shot to death. According to the report, “The owner contacted police several days later to report the incident.” Authorities were asking anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified.
Jacksonville, Florida
News4JAX.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Frederick County, Maryland
DailyVoice.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.WUSA9.com later reported that a second homeless cat had been found acting aggressively. He or she was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Robinson Township, Pennsylvania
CBSNews.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found badly injured behind a residence. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d been shot with a pellet gun and fragments of a pellet remained lodged in her spine, causing paralysis. She was also bleeding internally. The kitten went into shock and had to be euthanized. A second kitten found at the same location had sustained a broken tail. He was receiving treatment and was expected to survive. A suspect had allegedly admitted to shooting the female kitten. Authorities were notified.
Readington Township, New Jersey
DailyVoice.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Town of Boston, New York
WIVB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found wounded. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where treatment was provided for injuries sustained after being shot with a pellet gun. Authorities were asking anyone with information to contact them, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Brackenridge, Pennsylvania
WPXI.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found by authorities “in terrible pain.” He was taken to an animal adoption group, where a spokesperson said a rubber band had been found tightly wrapped around one of his legs. According to the group, the band had resulted in “poor circulation, pain and an infection” and the leg may have to be amputated. No additional information was available.
Livonia, New York
TheLCN.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. Two people were exposed to the virus. No additional information was available.
Franklin Township, Pennsylvania
TNOnline.com reported that a homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Greenwood, California
MTDemocrat.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead. He or she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where testing revealed that the animal had died of rabies. According to the report, “The family and veterinarian’s office consulted with Animal Services on any other actions needed regarding their potential exposure.”
Town of Campbell, Wisconsin
Channel3000.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found injured on the side of a busy highway. Responding authorities took the animal to a humane society, where he or she died, likely from having been hit by a vehicle.
Pocomoke City, Maryland
WBOC.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Ukiah, California
UkiahDailyJournal.com reported that authorities were investigating after a resident reported that a cat she’d allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found by residents in another area after he’d gone missing in March. According to the complaint, the resident said that while looking for the cat, “she found another of her cats in a trap in the back of a truck parked at her neighbor’s house.” She released the second cat from the trap and called authorities. Another cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in the same area had reportedly also gone missing in March. That animal had not been found.
Port Orange, Florida
FOX35Orlando.com reported that a man was “facing a charge of animal cruelty after police say he beat [an apparently homeless] cat with a baseball bat, threw the animal down an embankment, and then beat [the cat] to death when the animal was crying.” Witnesses had called authorities. No additional information was available.
Pueblo, Colorado
Chieftain.com reported that a homeless cat had sustained injuries after struggling for approximately 36 hours to escape from a swamp cooler in which he’d become trapped. The animal had a tipped ear, indicating that he’d been sterilized and abandoned before he was injured. He was taken to an animal adoption group for medical treatment and was then abandoned again.
Floyd, Virginia
SWVAToday.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with a dart protruding from his side. Residents who had been feeding him called an animal adoption group, which captured him and transported him to a veterinary hospital. A veterinarian treating the cat reportedly “said the dart perforated seven areas of [his] intestines and almost completely passed through his abdomen.” An abscess was also found around one of his kidneys, and he required two types of antibiotics. He was expected to undergo weeks of treatment. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
June 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Smyrna, Delaware
News.Delaware.gov reported that a homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Two people were exposed to the virus and required post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Northampton Township, Pennsylvania
Bucks.CrimewatchPA.com reported that authorities had received a call from a resident who complained that a neighbor’s unvaccinated cat had entered the caller’s yard. When the caller’s dogs attacked the cat, the cat’s owner entered the yard and was able to get the cat away from the dogs. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital before being pronounced dead. The cat’s owner required medical care for a bite sustained during the incident, and one of the dogs required medical care for a laceration. Because the cat was unvaccinated, the dogs had to be quarantined.
West Haven, Connecticut
Patch.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured and was taken to an animal shelter. No additional information was available.
Chesterfield, Indiana
HeraldBulletin.com reported that a spokesperson for a group that had been sterilizing and reabandoning homeless cats at a mobile home park said that 11 of the cats who were captured had died from the highly contagious panleukopenia virus, also called feline distemper. Another spokesperson reportedly said, “[R]esidents are frightened of the cats because of their disturbing health conditions. One cat … trapped had a large hole in … [the] neck.”
Niagara, New York
LockportJournal.com reported that a homeless cat who was being housed in a resident’s garage had sustained injuries, possibly during an attack by a rabid raccoon who was found there. According to the report, “As the cat was not fully vaccinated, the homeowner opted for humane euthanasia in lieu of an extended 6-month quarantine.”
Charleston, South Carolina
CountOn2.com reported that a homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. According to the report, “Confirmed exposures include one person and ‘an unknown number of feral cats within the colony.’” No additional information was available.
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Newsweek.com reported that a homeless cat who was near death had been found hiding under a garbage receptacle. A good Samaritan found the animal, who was later named Phoenix, covered with maggots and fleas and with a badly injured paw, infected ears, and a necrotic tail. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. The veterinarian who treated him also “found bruises and abrasions on Phoenix’s legs while some bone was even exposed.” It was also determined that he was suffering from “a compromised immune system.” He was expected to undergo weeks of treatment.
Chandler, Arizona
12News.com reported that a homeless kitten had been found treading water in a 20-foot-deep storm drain. Authorities were called and “were able to open the drain bolts with a special hyaluronic tool.” The “severely hypothermic and exhausted” kitten was taken to an animal adoption group’s veterinary clinic, where he was found also to have sustained “bleeding and torn nails.” He was receiving treatment.
Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania
RepublicanHerald.com reported that two homeless kittens who had been fed by a volunteer with a group doing business as Save the Strays Schuylkill (which traps, neuters, and reabandons cats) had died and that one of them had tested positive for rabies. According to the report, the volunteer had taken the kittens into her garage, where one of them bit her. The animal was later found dead and tested positive for rabies. The second kitten was then also found dead. The volunteer reportedly said she would no longer trap and abandon cats because “she is worried about others in her community, particularly children, coming into contact with rabid animals and contracting the disease.” She was receiving post-exposure rabies treatment.
Spokane, Washington
FOX28Spokane.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found bleeding and unable to stand. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot and a bullet remained lodged in his body, paralyzing him. It wasn’t known if he would survive. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Gilbert, South Carolina
WestMetroNews.net reported that authorities had arrested a man and charged him with ill treatment of animals after they received a report that he had killed an apparently homeless cat and hung the animal’s body from a tree. Upon investigation, authorities reportedly found the cat’s body as well as two more “dead cats with nooses around their necks” in the area. No additional information was available.
Hawkins County, Tennessee
TheRogersvilleReview.com reported that a resident who had been feeding homeless cats on her property went outside one day “to find most of the stray cats that she’d been feeding for the past year missing – with one horrible exception. There was a kitten on her porch … [who] had been mutilated.” The kitten was found “sitting and crying on the ramp that leads to her front porch with one front leg severed and the other front leg nearly cut off.” Authorities were called, and the kitten was taken to an animal adoption group, where he was admitted in critical condition. WATE.com reported that a spokesperson for the group said the kitten “was suffering from a severe infection at his leg joint, fly egg infestation and dehydration alongside several cuts around his right shoulder. ‘The one leg was cut completely off …. And [on] the other leg the ball of the humerus and part of the shoulder blade are gone.’” Anyone with information about what may have happened was asked to contact authorities, but no suspects were identified.
Tampa, Florida
TampaDispatch.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had died or been euthanized had tested positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
South Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania
CBSNews.com reported that a homeless cat had been found badly injured. Authorities were called and transported the animal to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that she had a bullet lodged in her head and had recently had kittens. She had to be euthanized because of the severity of her injuries. No additional information was available.
Mantua Township, New Jersey
Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. One person was exposed to the virus and required post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Military.com reported that housing maintenance workers had found four apparently homeless cats “cut in half” on the base. In an e-mail sent to residents, a base commander said, “The only parts found have been the lower portion and the cuts have been clean indicating it is not a natural attack by a coyote or any other predator.” Anyone with information about what happened to the animals was asked to contact security forces. No additional information was available.
Manchester, New Jersey
APP.com reported that a homeless cat had “attacked several people” before being found dead near a resident’s home and testing positive for rabies. Authorities advised anyone who may have been exposed to the cat to seek medical attention. No additional information was available.
Southampton County, Virginia
WTKR.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked three farmworkers. The animal died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Ellery, New York
WGRZ.com reported that “at the end of a late-night shift,” a state conservation officer had found a homeless kitten, whose head had become “stuck inside a plastic fast-food drink cup,” in the middle of a road. The kitten reportedly couldn’t “lift [his or her] head off the ground or pull [his or her] head out of the lid.” The officer was able to cut the lid off the kitten’s head, and a home was reportedly found for the animal.
Norwalk, Connecticut
Bronx.News12.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been “found with a fractured and dislocated femur, likely from being thrown or manhandled by his leg.” He was taken to an animal adoption group, where he reportedly underwent “a procedure” and was resting. The group apparently didn’t have the funds for needed veterinary treatment and was asking for donations. No additional information was available.
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
CBSNews.com reported that two apparently homeless kittens had been found dead on a road. According to the report, authorities were “looking for a suspect” and evidently believed it could be a case of intentional cruelty to animals. No additional information was available.
Harris County, Texas
Click2Houston.com reported that residents in a neighborhood said that at least four cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been attacked, three of them fatally, by two dogs who were also roaming unsupervised. One resident witnessed an attack after hearing a neighbor’s cat screaming. Another neighbor went outside after hearing an animal growling and saw a cat described as “an outdoor cat” being mauled by the dogs. “One of them had the head of the cat and the other one had the tail and they were literally trying to rip this cat apart,” she said. According to the report, “Video from other neighbors shows other attacks, each taking place over the past few weeks.” Authorities were notified.
Town ’n’ Country, Florida
WFLA.com reported that since April 2021, five cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in a mobile home park. According to the report, “[T]hree cats died from gunshot wounds and two others were seriously injured.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Weston, Florida
Local10.com reported that “several” cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead and cut in half. Authorities reportedly believed that the injuries were “not consistent with that of animal bites/attacks and appeared to be intentional.” They were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Honolulu, Hawaii
KITV.com reported that a group that has been sterilizing and reabandoning homeless cats on a military base said that recently, two mutilated cats were found near a fast-food restaurant on base. The animals were reportedly “found to have a slit down their stomach with their intestines and organs spilling out. One cat was also treated … [for] blow dart injuries, and several reports have been made about cats being shot at with blow darts.” A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that “multiple cats” were roaming with blow darts embedded in their bodies. “We have only captured one of the injured cats, while others are still on base suffering with these blow darts in them, including at least one cat with a blow dart in [his or her] head,” she said. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Ardmore, Oklahoma
KXII.com reported that authorities had received a report about a man chasing cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision on a resident’s property. Responding officers arrested the man after he was found on the property with a backpack that contained one dead and one live cat. According to the article, a police report “states that the cats didn’t have access to food or water, and were likely crushed by other things in the bag.” A spokesperson for the police department said, “[T]hey’ve been balancing calls in that neighborhood from people who do and don’t like the cats.” The man was reportedly “facing two felony counts of animal cruelty, several drug charges, and a trespassing charge.”
Birmingham, Alabama
WBRC.com reported that “at least a dozen” cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in a neighborhood had been attacked and killed by a pack of dogs who were homeless or allowed to roam. A resident said that one of the neighbors had witnessed an attack “and chased the dogs away but it was too late.” Another resident reportedly posted on a neighborhood internet site that she had “witnessed her neighbor’s cat [being] killed before going on a walk where she saw 14 other dead cats.” Authorities were reportedly notified.
May 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Krum, Texas
Patch.com reported that a homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Henrico County, Virginia
WRIC.com reported that a homeless cat had been found injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that he’d been shot and that a bullet had become lodged in his throat. He was reportedly scheduled to undergo surgery in an attempt to remove the projectile. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Amarillo, Texas
NewsChannel10.com reported that “several” cats who were apparently homeless had been shot with a pellet gun in an area where there were “many” homeless cats. According to the report, “Officials said over the past month, a local veterinarian confirmed through x-ray that several cats have been shot with a pellet gun.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
St. Simons Island, Georgia
TheBrunswickNews.com reported that a homeless cat had chased a dog and then cornered a painter in a work truck for an hour before the animal was beaten to death by another worker in the area with “a nearby child’s T-ball bat.” Authorities sent the animal’s body for testing, which revealed that he or she had been rabid. The man who killed the cat reportedly received post-exposure rabies treatment.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore.CBSLocal.com reported that after the cries of an apparently homeless cat had been heard coming from inside a vehicle engine, authorities were called and worked for more than an hour to free him from the engine’s compartment. Once freed, it was found that he’d sustained “burns covering his underside and ulcerations on all four paw pads, staff said. His skin was peeling and his fur was covered in soot; he even had soot in his mouth.” He was taken to an animal shelter for treatment.
Marshall, New York
RomeSentinel.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. One person was exposed to the virus and required post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
North Charleston, South Carolina
FOX6Now.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found injured. He or she was taken to an animal shelter, where veterinarians reportedly “said radiographs showed multiple pellets embedded in the cat’s skin and body. It also appeared one pellet struck [the] cat’s spine, causing severe mobility issues. Veterinarians believe the cat has a poor prognosis because of the extent of the injuries.” A puppy had also been found in the area “with a gunshot wound to his paw.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Boston, Massachusetts
WCVB.com reported that a homeless cat had been found in shock and unable to walk. She was taken to an animal shelter, where a spokesperson said that “she has a pelvic fracture that also created a destabilization of the hip joint and will require surgery.” According to the report, “The surgery, known as a femoral head ostectomy, was expected to cost up to $4,500.” She was expected to survive. No additional information was available.
Pleasantville, New Jersey
BreakingAC.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with a wound. Two local residents were allegedly “caring for” the animal when he or she started to exhibit neurological symptoms. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he or she died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. The residents were advised to seek post-exposure rabies treatment. No additional information was available.
Fremont, California
KRON4.com reported that authorities had found the body of an apparently homeless cat who had been killed after responding to “reports of a cat being slammed into the ground.” After interviewing witnesses, they identified a suspect who was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. No additional information was available.
Muscatine, Iowa
MuscatineJournal.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found lying in a road, evidently unable to move. A driver who saw “the cat move [his] tail a bit while trying to lift [his] head” stopped and took him to a veterinary hospital. She said the animal had blood coming out of his mouth. A veterinarian reported that the cat had an injured jaw but was eating and drinking. An owner was reportedly identified and picked up the cat. No additional information was available.
Jackson County, Mississippi
SunHerald.com reported that a man had pleaded guilty on two counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly “luring two of his neighbor’s cats into a baited trap and then dumping the cats.” According to the report, the suspect had admitted to the cats’ owner in 2020 that he had abandoned one of the cats at a “boat launch.” The cats were apparently never found.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PhiladelphiaWeekly.com reported that a homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Las Vegas, Nevada: News3LV.com reported that a homeless kitten had been rescued from a dumpster that had caught fire. She was taken to an animal shelter, where a spokesperson said, “[H]er fur and whiskers are singed, her paws are burnt, and she may need foot bandages.” She was reportedly “currently in an incubator to warm her up and is on medication to help with the pain.” No additional information was available.
Rock Island, Illinois
OurQuadCities.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found by his owner “in a ravine about 40 yards from his house—killed, gutted and skinned.” According to the cat’s owner, authorities believed that the mutilations had been intentionally caused by a human and were investigating. No suspects were identified.
Advance, North Carolina
OurDavie.com reported that a homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Atmore, Alabama: KDRV.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with arrows. One of the cats was found after he’d been missing for some time. “I heard his meowing, and by the time I got over to where he was, he came through the gate, and he had an arrow through his forehead and coming out the back of his head,” the owner said. “It was severely infected. I don’t know where he had been all of this time.” The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died. The cat’s owner said a neighbor’s cat had also been shot with an arrow and died. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
April 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Lawrenceville, Georgia
AJC.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked two people in the downtown area. The animal was captured and apparently euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Lampasas County, Texas
FOX44News.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Lansing, Michigan
LansingCityPulse.com reported that a homeless cat who was fed by a resident had been found limping. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot, resulting in a badly fractured leg. He underwent surgery and was expected to survive. The person who fed the cat said that she planned to file a report with authorities, but no suspects were identified.
Walters, Oklahoma
KSWO.com reported that a man was facing a cruelty-to-animals charge after he allegedly “killed a mother cat and several kittens by poisoning them with rat poison that was mixed in with cat food” the previous summer. The animals reportedly belonged to a neighbor, who contacted authorities after they died. According to the report, “The cat food was confiscated, and later tested positive for Brodifacoum, a commonly used pesticide.”
Jefferson County, Missouri
MyLeaderPaper.com reported that a firefighter had climbed into a sewer pipe to rescue a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision and had become trapped there. According to the report, it appeared that the cat had “entered the pipe to hide after being attacked by another animal.” The cat was taken to an animal shelter, where it was determined that he or she was in such bad shape that the animal had to be euthanized.
Keizer, Oregon
KPTV.com reported that after authorities received a call from a resident reporting that he’d seen a cat with an arrow through the body, a neighbor’s cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, had been found unable to walk with “an entry and exit wound on his belly.” The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d sustained “bad nerve damage,” apparently from an arrow. His owner said she later “found the arrow under a boat trailer in her backyard” and believed that the cat had removed it himself. No suspects were identified.
Power County, Idaho
KPVI.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found hanging from the owner’s fence “dead and split in two.” The cat’s owner reportedly said that “when he first bought the property about a year and a half ago, there was a cat’s decomposed body in the house with the head cut off, as well as another cat found dead out by their fence line.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Lebanon, Kentucky
WAVE3.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found with an arrow through his body. He was taken to an animal shelter, which transferred him to an animal adoption group, where he received medical care and was expected to survive. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact authorities, but no suspects were identified.
Hall County, Georgia
GainesvilleTimes.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or been euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Two dogs were exposed to the virus. No additional information was available.
Saint Martinville, Louisiana
KLFY.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dead floating in a lake. According to a spokesperson for an animal adoption group, “[S]omeone had shot the cat in the head and attempted to sink [the body] into the lake by tying a brick around it.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Saint Lawrence, Pennsylvania
News.Yahoo.com reported that a homeless cat had attacked a man before the animal was captured and euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Authorities were trying to capture another cat in the area who had been seen “exhibiting potential rabies symptoms.” A spokesperson for an animal adoption group working with the health department reportedly said that residents in the area had advised that the rabid cat had been “part of a significantly-sized cat colony in the area.” The group was working to capture cats for examination. According to the spokesperson, “If the cat shows puncture wounds, by Department of Health directions, the cat is euthanized.” Two captured cats had been euthanized at the time of the report. It was later reported that two cats had been found dead in the area and tested negative for rabies. According to the report, “[F]our others were euthanized for having wounds of unknown origins.”
Yakima, Washington
NewsTalkKit.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found skinned and decapitated. No additional information was available.
Cleveland, Ohio
WKYC.com reported that four homeless kittens had fallen into a drainpipe. Three of the animals died, and an animal adoption group was apparently called when the fourth one was heard crying from where “[s]he was stuck eight feet down.” After an hour of work, the kitten was pulled, unresponsive, out of the pipe and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment, including bringing her temperature “back up to normal,” according to the group. She was apparently expected to survive.
Monroe, Louisiana
HannaPub.com reported that three cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with a .22-caliber weapon. According to the animals’ owner, one cat was shot “and had to undergo immediate surgery to remove [his or her] front left leg.” A second cat “was shot in the neck, and fragments still remain lodged near [the animal’s] throat. A third cat was shot in the stomach and didn’t survive.” Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Omaha, Nebraska
KETV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found injured. He was taken to an animal shelter, where it was discovered that he’d been shot and two bullets remained lodged in his leg, which had to be amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
March 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Lakeland, Florida
FOX13News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. Video surveillance footage reportedly showed the cat near a gate to the owner’s property when “a single gunshot can be heard” and a “vehicle is seen speeding away.” According to the report, “Deputies said the cat was taken to a veterinarian with a spinal injury, adding that [his or her] injuries were severe, and [the animal] had to be euthanized.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Butler County, Ohio
FOX19.com reported that “two cats were shot and killed in a mobile home park, and two others were intentionally injured there.” A veterinarian reportedly said that one of the surviving cats “suffered a severe break on her left front leg that will require amputation.” Metal, likely from a bullet, had been found inside a wound on the leg, which was also swollen. A self-professed animal “rescue” had apparently been sterilizing and reabandoning homeless cats at the location. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Lacy Lakeview, Texas
FOX44News.com reported that authorities were investigating after “several” cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been “found dead – with their heads stuffed into plastic bags or potato chip bags.” No additional information was available.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
KHQ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found at the owner’s door, “meowing and limping” with “her face just full of blood.” One of her eyes was described by the owner as “half out, and black.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that she’d been shot and “a red, diamond-shaped pellet” remained lodged in her eye, which had to be surgically removed. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Jacksonville, Florida
News4JAX.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. One of the attacks was captured on video surveillance footage. Authorities were notified.
Sullivan County, Tennessee
WJHL.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found “with an apparent gunshot wound on her nose and right cheek.” She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that shrapnel was embedded in her face and she was bleeding heavily. She was in critical condition and had to be fed through a tube, “and veterinarians expect that it will take 4-6 months for a full recovery.” The cat was surrendered to a humane society because the owner apparently couldn’t afford the cost of needed care. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified. WCYB.com reported that the cat had undergone emergency surgery “to remove her cheek bone and shrapnel.”
New Middletown, Ohio
WKBN.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot in the leg, which had to be amputated. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Nicholasville, Kentucky
FOXLexington.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been missing for days before he was found shot to death “with a hunting dart lodged in his neck/chest area.” Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PhillyVoice.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was in critical condition after two dogs who were being walked on leashes had allegedly been purposefully set upon him. The attack was captured on video surveillance footage, which allegedly showed the dog walkers drop their leashes and praise the dogs during the attack. The cat was taken to an animal shelter, where he was receiving medical care. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. Inquirer.com later reported that two juveniles had been identified as suspects and were “facing charges of felony animal fighting, felony aggravated animal cruelty, and a conspiracy charge,” according to authorities. The two dogs had also been seized in connection to the case. PhillyVoice.com later reported that the cat had been homeless, had been fed by a family in the neighborhood, and was being placed in a foster home to “continue to rehab.”
South Fulton, Georgia
FOX5Atlanta.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found bleeding and injured. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot and a bullet remained lodged in his shoulder, where the wound had become infected. The animal’s owner also said it appeared that he’d been cut “and someone had tried to stitch him up.” He received initial treatment, and it was possible that the leg would need to be amputated. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Glenview, Illinois
Patch.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly drowning two cats. According to the report, the man admitted to police that he’d drowned the animals because of “issues he has with feral cats and cats in the neighborhood attacking his dog.” One of the cats belonged to a neighbor, who said that the man had threatened to kill the cat in November 2021, when he allegedly sent a text message in which “he described that they had to do something about this problem and get rid of the two cats because they were causing harm to his dog.” The dead cats were found in a trash can at the end of the suspect’s driveway. The owner of the second cat, if there was one, hadn’t been identified at the time of the report.
York, Pennsylvania
FOX43.com reported that four cats who were part of a “colony” apparently fed at a cemetery had been found dead and another cat had been found “clinging to life.” The cat who survived was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment, where it was confirmed that the animal had ingested poison. Reportedly, a nonprofit group that was trying to capture and remove an unspecified number of cats who remained at the location “discovered that rat poison as well as small, rusty nails were placed into the food dishes the cats had been eating from.” A police report was filed, but no suspects were identified.
Atascosa County, Texas
News4SanAntonio.com reported that an unspecified number of homeless cats had been found shot with arrows and some had allegedly also been burned. The animals were reportedly “walking around with the arrow still imbedded in their heads and suffering. A criminal investigation is underway by local officials.” Authorities had reportedly been trying to capture the animals but had not been successful. No suspects were identified.
Copperopolis, California
CalaverasEnterprise.com reported that authorities had arrested a man who allegedly shot to death a neighbor’s cat and shared video footage of the killing on social media. The cat’s owner said that the animal had been missing and that the suspect may have had the animal for “a day or two” before the killing.
Dillon, South Carolina
WBTW.com reported that authorities were “investigating after two cats were found dead with bullet holes, and another appeared to have had acid poured” on the animal. The cats were reportedly fed behind a church, where a member reported finding a dead cat with a bullet hole near the spine. According to the report, “The man also reported that approximately two weeks prior, a cat was found, appearing to have had acid poured on [him or her]. According to the man, ‘the fur on the cat’s legs were gone and you could see the bone.’ The man also said the cat’s mouth was ‘messed up.’” A suspect had reportedly been identified. No additional information was available.
Tacoma, Washington
TheSubTimes.com published a local humane society report about four extremely ill homeless kittens who had been found in an empty lot. They were taken to the facility by a good Samaritan and were found to be “suffering from a severe upper respiratory infection causing trouble breathing. Their eyes are painfully swollen, encrusted with blood, and they can hardly see because of the infection in their eyes. They are extremely malnourished and tiny for their age. … With the infection being so severe, the shelter’s veterinary team is monitoring the situation closely as eye removal surgeries may be needed to prevent further deadly infection.” The kittens were receiving care.
Hillsborough County, Florida
WFLA.com reported that two apparently homeless cats had died or were euthanized before testing positive for rabies. Three people who had contact with the animals required post-exposure treatment. No additional information was available.
Royalton, New York
WKBW.com reported that a homeless cat who had been captured in a trap set on a resident’s property, apparently by a group that planned to sterilize and reabandon him, had been shot to death by the resident’s neighbor. According to a public post by authorities, the cat had been confined to a box trap when he was shot in the head with a .22-caliber weapon. Humane officers were allegedly told by the suspect that he shot the cat “so that the property owner did not have to pay the fee to have him neutered,” according to the post. He was charged with cruelty to animals. LockportJournal.com later reported that the trap that the cat had been captured in belonged to “Cat-by-Cat Inc., an organization that’s involved with Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release measures,” and that the property owner had allegedly told a representative of the group that she had asked the suspect to shoot the cat. She apparently made the request after one cat had been captured and removed by the group to be spayed. One remaining cat on the property was reportedly captured and removed after the shooting.
Victoria, Texas
CrossroadsToday.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured with half of his face missing, possibly from a gunshot. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he was being treated. According to a woman who was raising money for treatment, the animal was “in stable condition, his eye is healing, and the swelling has gone down. … [he was] finally eating and drinking on his own … [and] able to breathe through his mouth.” Photos of the cat were evidently too gruesome to show without being blurred. No additional information was available
Tulsa, Oklahoma
A news anchor with NewsOn6.com posted on social media that a man had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals “after investigators say he admitted drowning 7 feral cats because they were killing doves in his yard.” According to the post, an affidavit stated that the suspect had “called and requested Animal Control to come remove 7 dead cats from his property.” The affidavit reportedly also stated that before killing the animals, the suspect “said he called Animal Control, the Tulsa Health Department, OK Wildlife Department, Street Cats and the Tulsa SPCA but no one would come pick up the wild cats. It says he decided to trap the cats in a live trap then drop the trap into a bucket of water. It says when the investigator went to the home, there were 4-5 trash bags on the curb with the dead cats inside and a vet confirmed it appeared they died from drowning.”
Miami, Florida
MSN.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. According to the owner, “some fragments from the bullet … were left behind, but the bone basically shattered.” He believed the cat was shot with a pellet gun. She was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment and was expected to survive. Authorities were notified, but no suspects were identified.
Shifflet Corner, Virginia
DailyProgress.com reported that after a homeless cat tested positive for rabies in the community (see the January 2022/Shifflet Corner, Virginia, entry below for details), 20 to 30 more homeless cats had been captured and euthanized to prevent the spread of the virus. Authorities had also received calls about two sick cats who were reportedly found “foaming at the mouth” and who were captured and euthanized before testing negative for rabies. Approximately 10 cats were under a four-month quarantine in an outdoor enclosure built by a group that had been feeding them.
Asheville, North Carolina
FOXCarolina.com reported that an emaciated, sick homeless cat had been found with a litter of newborn kittens. They were taken to an animal adoption group, where a spokesperson reportedly said that they “were in the worst condition.” The mother was reportedly “weak and very dehydrated. One of her kittens appeared pretty healthy, but the others were about half the size they should have been,” according to the spokesperson. All but one of the kittens died. The mother and one kitten were expected to survive.
Roanoke, Virginia
WFXRTV.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with an injured leg 20 to 25 feet high on a utility pole. Authorities were called and rescued the animal. No additional information was available.
Toledo, Ohio
13ABC.com reported that a homeless cat had been found the previous year “with serious injuries after being hit by a car” and suffering from “a severe upper respiratory infection, he was anemic, he had broken teeth and a fractured front leg.” He was taken to an adoption group for treatment, including the amputation of a leg, and was adopted, “but a few weeks later he stopped walking.” He was returned to the group and was undergoing additional tests and treatment, including “walking on an underwater treadmill, laser therapy and acupuncture.”
Fauquier County, Virginia
Star-Exponent.com reported that a homeless cat died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. According to the report, “The health department has contacted identified individuals who may have had contact with the feral cat and assessed individual needs for post-exposure rabies shots.” No additional information was available.
Richmond, Virginia
NBC12.com reported that a resident had found a homeless kitten who was apparently ill or injured along a road. He or she was taken to a public animal shelter, where the animal died or was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. Twelve people were potentially exposed to the virus. No additional information was available.
February 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Los Lunas, New Mexico
KRQE.com reported that a man was facing charges after surveillance footage showed him “swearing at” a homeless cat, who had been fed by a neighbor, when he found the animal in the engine compartment of his truck. According to the report, “Investigators say he started the truck and intentionally revved the engine before you can see the cat limping away. Animal control arrived and found the cat dragging [his or her] back legs. The neighbor says the cat was euthanized.” No additional information was available.
Winslow Township, New Jersey
CamdenCounty.com reported that a homeless cat had been found “wounded.” A resident confined the animal to a carrier and called authorities, who transported him or her to a veterinary hospital. According to the report, the animal “developed symptoms consistent with rabies days later” and was euthanized before testing positive for the virus. There were reportedly several human exposures. No additional information was available.
West Palm Beach, Florida
CBS12.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had returned home injured after he was shot with a BB gun. He was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment and survived. The cat’s owner said that recently “another cat came crawling up to his front porch with the same exact wound.” No additional information was available.
Milford Township, Pennsylvania
SauconSource.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with a BB gun. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Santa Rosa, California
PressDemocrat.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been killed by two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. According to the owners of one of the cats, the dogs pushed through a gate and attacked the cat in the owners’ backyard. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died. According to the owners of the second cat, the dogs chased the animal from the driveway into the backyard, where they “pretty much tore him apart.” The dogs were captured by a neighbor and taken to the animal services department.
Bristol, Indiana
WNDU.com reported that a homeless cat had been found by animal control officers “covered in fleas and severely injured.” He was taken to an animal shelter, where X-rays reportedly showed that his “leg was shattered from BB pellets, and he had pellets in his chest.” He required surgery, including to amputate the leg. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
North Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania
WTAE.com reported that a homeless cat had been found with a deep wound caused by zip ties that had been fastened around his chest. He was taken to an animal adoption group, where a veterinarian reportedly said that the ties “were not super tight, but that actually allowed the movement to basically saw through the soft tissue.” Surgery was required to remove the ties and treat the wound. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Clarkston, Georgia
FOX5Atlanta.com reported that a homeless cat had been found dragging his legs and “wailing in pain” by a resident who “takes care of ferals and strays in his neighborhood.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot and bullet fragments remained lodged in his spinal column, which was fractured. The animal was permanently paralyzed. The resident planned to file a report with authorities, but no suspects were identified. No additional information was available.
Hillsboro, Ohio
FOX19.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found partially frozen to the ground. He was severely dehydrated and semi-comatose and had a bullet wound on the top of his head. He was taken to an animal hospital, where it was found that he’d been shot three times and shrapnel had been left “all along the path where the bullet had traced through there,” according to a veterinarian. According to the report, the veterinarian “says two of the wounds looked old because tissue formed around them but there was a fresh wound on the top of [the cat’s] head that was bleeding.” The veterinarian said surgery was not possible because removing the bullets would likely cause more damage. The cat was being treated. No additional information was available.
Orange County, Florida
ClickOrlando.com reported that two juveniles and an 18-year-old had set three pit bulls on a cat, who was apparently homeless. A witness reportedly videotaped the attack and shared the footage with authorities. According to the report, “Deputies reported ‘the dogs were encouraged to inflict excessive and repeated injuries to the cat.’ An animal services officer said the likelihood of the cat dying ‘was very high due to [the] major injuries,’ according to the affidavit.” The three suspects were later found, and the 18-year-old allegedly had “blood and fur on his pants and deputies saw a ‘large amount of blood’ on one of the pit bulls.” The suspects were facing charges of cruelty to animals. No additional information was available.
Winter Park, Florida
FOX35Orlando.com reported that at least six homeless cats had died in a neighborhood. A cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had also become ill and was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was found that “her kidneys were completely destroyed by some substance that we don’t know yet,” according to the owner. While the news outlet was in the neighborhood to report on the story, an animal services worker was reportedly seen picking up another sick cat in the area. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
January 2022 Media Reports Exposing How Cats Outdoors Suffer and Die
Galax, Virginia
WSLS.com reported that a 6-month-old kitten had been found frozen inside a drain pipe by a resident. Authorities were called and found the animal “pinned against metal and it was pinned against plastic. I noticed that the metal part of tubing was razor-sharp at the bottom and the kitten’s head was stuck in between it.” A hair dryer was used to thaw the area, and the kitten was extricated. A responding officer said the kitten “really wanted help” and “was beginning to deteriorate. [The animal] was tired [and] wet, and the water from the tubing continued to drip on [his or her] head and that water was very cold.” When the animal was finally removed from the pipe, he or she was “cold, limp and frozen.” The kitten was transported to an animal hospital for treatment.
Shifflet Corner, Virginia
StarExponent.com reported that a homeless cat had been found dead at a resident’s property. The animal’s remains tested positive for rabies. According to the report, “The local health department has contacted all identified people who may have had contact with the feral cat and has assessed individual needs for rabies post-exposure shots.” No additional information was available.
New Orleans, Louisiana
NOLA.com reported that groups that sterilized and reabandoned homeless cats in the area had revealed that at least four cats had been found shot recently. One cat described as an “indoor-outdoor” cat was found limping and was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray showed that “[t]he top of his humerus bone was shattered, and there was a bullet,” according to the owner. The leg had to be amputated. Another cat had been found “wounded by ‘three metal projectiles … one in the caudal stifle area of the right hind leg, one in the 11th rib of the left thorax and one near the spine on the left side,’ according to an SPCA report. … After [the cat] was released from the SPCA, [he or she] disappeared.” A third cat was found by another group after it received “a call about an injured cat dragging [his] legs. ‘He was not hit with a BB gun. He was shot with a gun,’ [a spokesperson for the group] said. ‘It was a .22, very clearly a bullet.’ The bullet was lodged near the spine … and because of the extent of his injuries, he was euthanized. [The animal] had been part of a colony cared for by volunteers.” Another cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in the area had returned home so badly injured from a gunshot wound that he had to be euthanized. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating, but no suspects were identified.
Vallonia, Indiana
TribTown.com reported that two men had been “arrested in connection with an animal cruelty case involving the death of more than 20 cats.” The men reportedly told authorities that they had trapped cats who wandered onto their property and shot them in the head with a 9-millimeter handgun. The animals’ bodies were then buried on the property. A neighbor alleged that all or some of the cats belonged to her and shared with authorities a recording in which the men allegedly told her, “Hey, your cats are dead,” which resulted in the investigation that led to the arrests.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
OnlineMadison.com reported that a man had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after he allegedly fatally shot two cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. One of the animals was reportedly found dead on a neighbor’s doorstep. The remains were “examined and determined to have been shot with a pellet rifle,” according to a police spokesperson. A second cat was also found dead with apparent pellet gun injuries. No additional information was available.
Moore Haven, Florida
NBC-2.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Fort Dick, California
WildRivers.LostCoastOutpost.com reported that at least nine cats who were homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in a neighborhood had been attacked and killed by dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised. Eight additional cats in the area were missing. Authorities were attempting to capture the dogs.
Poplarville, Mississippi
WLOX.com reported that authorities were investigating after “several cats” had been shot with blowgun darts. They shared a photo of one of the cats, who had been struck in the middle of the forehead with one of the 4-to-5-inch-long projectiles but reportedly survived. No additional information was available.
San Angelo, Texas
SanAngeloLive.com reported that authorities had arrested a woman on a cruelty-to-animals charge after she allegedly admitted to shooting a homeless cat who had been fed by a neighbor. According to the report, deputies responding to a call found the cat with “an apparent gunshot wound to the right side of [her] belly that was swollen and surrounded by blood.” The suspect reportedly “stated she shot the cat with a .22 rifle because the cats were tearing up her trash. [The suspect] said the cat she shot was in the alley heading towards her property.” No additional information was available about the cat’s condition.
Montgomery County, Texas
HoustonChronicle.com reported that authorities had charged a man with cruelty to animals after he allegedly admitted to shooting five cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. According to the report, one of the cats was found dead in a creek. A second cat was found on his owner’s porch “with his face severely wounded by a gunshot. ‘His jaw was completely blown away,’” the owner said. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had to be euthanized. A third cat was found bleeding from the head and was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an X-ray reportedly found a pellet lodged in the animal’s head, which caused blindness in one eye and resulted in “difficulty eating.” Two other cats were injured but survived. Other residents in the neighborhood reportedly said that they had cats go missing. No additional information was available.
Lincoln, North Dakota
KFYRTV.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found “frozen on the road.” She was taken to an animal adoption group, where her temperature was found to be so low that it didn’t register on a thermometer. She was transferred to a veterinary hospital for treatment. A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that it had already had “a few” cases this year in which animals had been found freezing on roads.
Yorktown, Virginia
13NewsNow.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had died or was euthanized before testing positive for rabies. No additional information was available.
Candler, North Carolina
WLOS.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where “[a]n X-ray of the cat’s leg showed the shot was likely from a high-powered pellet gun.” No additional information was available.
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
GoDanRiver.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found “hobbling around” outside a resident’s door. He reportedly “tried to enter [her] home whenever she opened the door.” The homeowner called area veterinary hospitals but was told that if she took him to one of them, she’d be responsible for the bill. She said, “The injuries were more than I could afford.” Money was raised for treatment, and the cat was kept inside until the next day, when he was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that “his front left leg and jaw were broken.” He received treatment.
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