The Great Outdoors? Not for Cats! 2015

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

December 2015/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: PittsburghCBSLocal.com reported that a man had been arrested after allegedly admitting to killing cats, some of whom were reportedly part of a “sanctioned colony” and some of whom were allowed to roam outside without supervision by their owners. Two cats were found dead in their owner’s trash can, and a live cat was evidently taken to a veterinarian, who determined that the animal had ingested mothballs. WTAE.com reported that the accused admitted to police “that he sprayed bleach in the faces of two cats” who “got into his basement, then beat them to death with a hockey stick.” A criminal complaint reportedly said that the suspect told investigators, “The cats are beyond a complete nuisance.”

December 2015/Salisbury, North Carolina: SalisburyPost.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision was heard “screaming intensely” by her owner, who was indoors. The owner went outside and witnessed two dogs, who were also roaming unsupervised, with the cat in their mouths, “playing tug-of-war” with the animal. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died from his injuries. A neighbor said that the roaming dogs had killed five additional cats in recent weeks who were allowed to roam outside without supervision. Authorities were searching for the dogs’ owner.

December 2015/Denver, Colorado: 9News.com reported that firefighters worked for more than an hour to free an apparently homeless kitten whose head had become stuck in the drain hole of a dumpster. The kitten was taken to an animal shelter and was to receive a medical evaluation.

December 2015/Lincoln, Nebraska: JournalStar.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had returned home injured. He was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that he’d been shot with a .22-caliber bullet, which was lodged in his back. He had to be euthanized because of the severity of his injuries. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/Brenham, Texas: BrenhamBanner.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had to be euthanized because of injuries he sustained after being shot with an arrow. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/Bear Lake, Utah: FOX13Now.com reported that a family had found an apparently homeless kitten frozen in a foot of snow, without a pulse, heartbeat, or respiration. A family member performed CPR and warmed the animal to revive him. He was taken to a veterinarian and adopted by a cousin of the rescuer.

December 2015/Old Bridge, New Jersey: NJ1015.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found badly injured after being shot twice with arrows. She was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that one arrow entered her chest, piercing vital organs, and the other struck her in the hindquarters. Her injuries were so severe that she had to be euthanized. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/Jasper, New York: EveningTribune.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been found by a motorist who heard him crying while she was stopped at an intersection. The cat was taken to an animal shelter, where it was determined that he’d been drenched in gasoline and sustained chemical burns on both front legs as well as his head, neck, ears, and chin. He was receiving treatment, and authorities were notified in case the injuries were caused intentionally. EveningTribune.com later reported that the cat had died from his injuries.

December 2015/Houston, Texas: Click2Houston.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been found cut in half and apparently dumped in some bushes behind her owner’s home. A police report was filed, and no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/San Antonio, Texas: News4SanAntonio.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had been found with severe burns, a broken pelvis, and a broken leg. She was taken to an animal shelter. Officials suspected that she had crawled inside a car’s engine for warmth and was injured when the vehicle was started. She was receiving veterinary treatment.

December 2015/Perris, California: PE.com reported that good Samaritans had found an apparently homeless kitten badly mangled in some bushes. One of them said that “it looked like [her] guts were sticking out—that’s how bad it was. … Her arm was just bones and tissue hanging. It was really, really bad.” The kitten was taken to a government-run animal shelter, where veterinarians amputated her leg. It was suspected that she had crawled inside a car’s engine for warmth and was injured when the vehicle was started. She was put up for adoption.

December 2015/Clearwater, Florida: WTSP.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become trapped inside the dashboard of the car driven by a good Samaritan who had earlier saved him from being run over in a busy street. A fire department chief worked for approximately two hours to remove pieces of the dashboard and was able to retrieve the terrified kitten. He was going to be taken to a veterinarian.

December 2015/Columbia, Missouri: KOMU.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been admitted to an animal shelter with severely infected wounds at the entry and exit sites of an arrow that had been shot through his leg. He received veterinary treatment and was put up for adoption. Authorities were investigating, but no suspect had been identified.

December 2015/Fort Worth, Texas: FOX4News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become trapped in a car engine. Police were called after the car’s owner was unable to remove the animal. Officers retrieved the kitten, whose subsequent status was not reported.

December 2015/Waukegan, Illinois: FOX32Chicago.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become stuck in a drainpipe in the front yard of a home. A resident heard the kitten crying and called authorities. Firefighters worked for approximately two hours and were able to retrieve the kitten, who was taken to a government-run animal shelter.

December 2015/Jacksonville, Florida: ABCNews.Go.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had sought shelter in the engine of a car without the knowledge of the owner, who heard intermittent meowing while using the vehicle. The kitten came out for food but then hid in the car again. The car’s owner was hoping to “call animal control” but could no longer find the animal.

December 2015/Boonsboro, Maryland: Your4State.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been found bleeding with an arrow through his body. The arrow had entered his back and exited his chest. The cat died when the arrow was removed. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/St. Johns County, Florida: ActionNewsJax.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been found dead after being shot with several bullets. Hours earlier, another cat in the neighborhood had also been found dead. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

December 2015/North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania: WFMZ.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been found in a neighbor’s yard and appeared to be injured. Police were notified, and a responding officer allegedly shot the cat, killing her. The case was under investigation.

December 2015/Taylor, Michigan: ClickOnDetroit.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been found dead in a wooded area, tied to a tree. Her legs were bound together with string, and she had evidently been tortured, choked, and mutilated. A police report was filed, but no suspects were identified.

December 2015/Springfield, Ohio: ABC22Now.com reported that a man had been charged with cruelty to animals for kicking a kitten off the ninth-floor balcony of an apartment building after the animal escaped his or her home and tried to get inside another apartment. The incident was captured by security cameras. The kitten died.

December 2015/Johns Island, South Carolina: Live5News.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outside without supervision had been shot to death by a neighbor. The neighbor told authorities that he had shot the cat with a .12-gauge shotgun. He was arrested and charged with ill treatment to animals.

December 2015/Fontana, California: NBCNewYork.com reported that workers with a plumbing company had spent more than 28 hours retrieving an apparently homeless kitten who was trapped in a storm drain. Special equipment was used to locate the kitten after someone reported hearing her faint cries, and the pipe was dug up. The kitten was taken home by someone at the scene.

December 2015/Valrico, Florida: FOX13News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become stuck at the bottom of a pipe that ran approximately 6 feet underground. A good Samaritan heard the animal’s cries and called authorities. Animal services workers were able to retrieve the kitten, who was taken home by the woman who called them.

November, 2015/Hudson, Florida: ABCActionNews.com reported that a cat was shot after roaming away from her property. After the cat was shot, the animal’s owner saw her run onto the porch and collapse. When she started bleeding, the cat was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where an X-ray showed a pellet lodged in her. She was euthanized. Authorities were contacted, but no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Sun-Sentinel.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in the engine of a car. The driver heard the kitten crying after a 20-mile trip, and firefighters removed portions of the vehicle to retrieve the cat. One of the firefighters reportedly took the animal home.

November 2015/Washington, D.C.: WJLA.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by a dog, who was also roaming unsupervised. The cat’s owner saw the dog attack and then run off with the cat, who was later found dead in the dog owner’s yard. The dog was quarantined.

November 2015/Battle Creek, Michigan: Freep.com reported that someone who had been feeding an apparently homeless cat found him with an arrow in his neck. The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic, where the arrow was removed, and he was expected to recover. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department, and no suspects were identified. The cat was going to be put back outside after 10 days.

November 2015/Fresno, California: ABC30.com reported that firefighters worked for approximately four hours to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become trapped in a crevice at a store. The kitten was given to the woman who had called authorities.

November 2015/Hanover Township, Pennsylvania: CitizensVoice.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with a fractured jaw and missing teeth. He was taken to a veterinarian three days later “screaming” in pain. Surgery revealed that a .22-caliber bullet was lodged in his jaw, and the injury had become infected. He was treated and returned to his owner. A police report was filed, but no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Bangor Township, Michigan: MLive.com reported that a cat who escaped his home was bleeding when he returned. He was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that he’d been shot in a hind leg with a pellet gun. The pellet traveled through the leg and into his chest, tearing through his spleen, intestines, liver, and diaphragm; grazing his stomach; and fracturing his ribs. He was receiving treatment. Authorities were alerted, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Virginia Beach, Virginia: WAVY.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain and was struggling to keep his head above water. Someone heard his cries and called authorities. An animal control officer was able to enter the drain and retrieve the kitten, who was taken to an animal shelter to be evaluated by a veterinarian.

November 2015/Patchogue, New York: Newsday.com reported that a cat who was either homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found disemboweled and thrown over a fence into a resident’s yard. The animal was the third cat found mutilated or beaten to death in the neighborhood. A reward was offered for information about the incidents, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Port Richey, Florida: BayNews9.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. Four city workers were able to retrieve the kitten, and one of them took the animal home.

November 2015/Mobile, Alabama: WKRG.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found by his owner in some bushes behind a backyard shed “whimpering” in pain and with a 30-inch hunting arrow sticking out of his leg. He was taken to a veterinarian, who had to amputate his leg because the arrow had shattered the bone. Police were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Sherwood, Oregon: KPTV.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was seen hobbling next to a highway in the rain. A good Samaritan stopped and retrieved the frightened animal, who was taken to a veterinary hospital and diagnosed with a fractured leg. The kitten died two days later from undetermined causes.

November 2015/South Kingstown, Rhode Island: ProvidenceJournal.com reported that a good Samaritan found an apparently homeless kitten crying in some bushes. The kitten was taken to a veterinary clinic, where X-rays revealed that she had sustained a broken pelvis, a broken leg, and a broken femoral head in another leg socket. A lot of scar tissue was found forming in the femoral-head injury. She was expected to undergo at least three surgeries.

November 2015/Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: LancasterOnline.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found stranded in the middle of a highway. A good Samaritan stopped traffic to retrieve the animal, who was dirty and greasy. It appeared that the animal had fallen from a car engine after seeking warmth from the cold. The kitten was taken to a food bank that offered veterinary services and was expected to be put up for adoption.

November 2015/Denver, Colorado: 9News.com reported that in a laundry room at an apartment complex, an apparently homeless cat was found with burns on her face, ears, and paws as well as scorched fur along her back. It appeared that she got injured after she hid under a dryer to try to stay warm. She was taken to an animal shelter for treatment and was expected to be put up for adoption.

November 2015/Katy, Texas: ABC13.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found dead and mutilated beside the curb in front of his home. Other cats in the neighborhood had reportedly also been killed and mutilated or had “disappeared.” Anyone with information was asked to call authorities, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Clayton, North Carolina: WNCN.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. Passersby heard the kitten’s cries and called authorities. Responding firefighters removed the covers and entered the drain to retrieve the kitten, who was cold and wet and whose paws were raw from trying to climb out of the drain. An animal control officer took custody of the kitten and hoped to find a home for the animal.

November 2015/Duval County, Florida: ActionNewsJAX.com reported that two apparently homeless kittens became trapped under some bushes during a flood and were found drowning at an apartment complex that had been evacuated. A good Samaritan followed the kittens’ cries, which could be heard on and off, and was able to retrieve them. He kept one of the kittens, and another complex resident took the other one home.

November 2015/Harford County, Maryland: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was heard crying inside the engine of an ambulance. An animal control officer was able to retrieve the kitten from atop the vehicle’s diesel fuel tank, where he or she had evidently become trapped while the vehicle responded to several calls. A 911 dispatcher adopted the kitten.

November 2015/New Market, Maryland: Your4State.com reported that a cat described as a “barn cat” was taken to a veterinarian after being found bleeding and limping. X-rays revealed that her leg had been shattered by a bullet and contained metal fragments. Her leg had to be amputated, but she was expected to survive. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Franklin Township, Pennsylvania: LehighValleyLive.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. The kitten appeared to be blind and suffering from severe infections in both eyes. It was believed that the eye problems caused the animal to fall into the drain. Firefighters were able to retrieve the kitten, who was taken to an animal shelter.

November 2015/Greensboro, North Carolina: Greensboro.com reported that five homeless kittens were found in a shed on a school campus where they had apparently been born. The kittens were all missing eyes, likely from a virus, and were taken to a veterinarian for assessment. They all required long-term treatment. A trap was set for the mother cat, who was captured, spayed, and adopted.

November 2015/Doral, Florida: Local10.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped between a concrete wall and pillar. A fire rescue worker was able to free the kitten, who was taken to an animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption.

November 2015/Stroud Township, Pennsylvania: PoconoRecord.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was badly injured in a garage fire. While going through rubble in the fire’s aftermath, firefighters heard the kitten crying. The animal was found under a plastic cabinet at the bottom of a pile of debris and was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment. He sustained scarring on his head and neck, and a burned ear reportedly fell off. One of his legs was stiff from scarring, and he was expected to “lose his toes” and need surgery. A firefighter adopted him.

November 2015/Portage, Indiana: NWITimes.com reported that three apparently homeless kittens became trapped in a stormwater drain pipe. Firefighters and an animal control officer attempting to rescue the kittens tried flushing them out of the drain with water. Two kittens were retrieved, but one was dead. A third kitten was captured in a box trap the next day. Both surviving kittens were taken to an animal shelter for assessment and were expected to be put up for adoption.

November 2015/Gahanna, Ohio: ABC6OnYourSide.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found badly injured along a stream bank by a neighbor. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had to be euthanized because of the extent of his injuries. His owner was notified and believed that someone had purposely harmed him. A necropsy was to be conducted. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/San Antonio, Texas: KEN5.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. A motorist who was stopped at a light heard the kitten crying and called authorities. Responding firefighters were able to retrieve the kitten, who was transferred to an animal shelter.

November 2015/Bismarck, North Dakota: GrandForksHerald.com reported that police were investigating after a woman found two cats on her property, both shot with arrows. One cat was seen on her deck as she was leaving for work. The animal had an arrow through his or her side and was no longer there when the woman returned home. A second cat was later found in the woman’s yard. An animal control officer took the cat to a veterinary clinic, where he or she had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. No suspects were identified.

November 2015/Hazel Park, Michigan: Freep.com reported that five apparently homeless cats had been found dead in a residential area. Necropsies determined that the animals had possibly been beaten to death. Two suspects were questioned, but police weren’t able to identify the individual responsible. Anyone with information was asked to call the police department.

November 2015/Jacksonville, Florida: ActionNewsJAX.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in the wheel well of a car. The car’s owner heard the kitten’s cries after driving to work. Good Samaritans were able to retrieve the kitten, and one planned to keep the animal.

November 2015/Mead, Colorado: TimesCall.com reported that a homeless cat’s head was stuck in the drain hole of a dumpster for approximately two days before she was discovered. City workers were able to rescue her with the help of a veterinarian. She was dehydrated and exhausted but was expected to recover. She was taken to an animal shelter.

November 2015/Tinton Falls, New Jersey: APP.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision became trapped in a storm drain. Responding firefighters lifted a heavy metal grate, and the cat’s owner was able to retrieve the animal.

November 2015/Blacklick, Ohio: NBC4I.com reported that after disappearing for five days, a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found so badly injured that he had to be euthanized. The cat was apparently shot in the face with a pellet gun. Anyone with information was asked to contact authorities, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Wildwood, Missouri: KSDK.com reported that a homeless cat was found in a barn with an arrow through his leg. The property owner took him to a shelter, where it was determined that the injury had become infected. He received treatment and was expected to recover. Anyone with information was asked to call authorities, and no suspects were identified.

November 2015/Barker, New York: LockportJournal.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with oozing wounds and crying in pain. He was taken to a veterinarian the next day and treated for wounds on opposite sides of his upper back, where the flesh was torn and infected. He was expected to recover. Half an arrow covered with blood and cat tooth marks was later found on the owner’s porch. A police report was filed, but no suspects were identified.

October 2015/Patchogue, New York: NBCNewYork.com reported that two “feral” cats were found tortured to death on the lawn of a woman who had been feeding them. Necropsies revealed that a kitten had been cut in half and an adult cat had been beaten to death. Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Merrimack, New Hampshire: MyFOXBoston.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors unsupervised returned home holding up his leg and yowled when touched. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where an X-ray revealed that the bone in the leg had been shattered by a small-caliber bullet or BB. He had also been shot in the chest, causing so much damage that he had to be euthanized. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Simi Valley, California: SimiValleyAcorn.com reported that a cat and dog who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were both killed by other animals, not mutilated by humans as was initially thought. The cat had been found disemboweled, and the dog had been found skinned.

October 2015/Chesterfield County, Virginia: NBC12.com reported that a cat who had escaped from his home returned bleeding and badly injured. After he was found crying under a bush, he was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where it was determined that he had been shot three times at close range, apparently with two different weapons: twice in the head and once in the leg, which was broken. He was receiving treatment. A reward was being offered for information about the incident, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Glens Falls, New York: PostStar.com reported that a man was charged with felony cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting an apparently homeless cat five times with a pellet gun. A good Samaritan found the cat badly injured. A responding police officer took the animal to a veterinarian’s office, where it was determined that the injuries, including spinal cord damage, were so severe that euthanasia was recommended. The man reportedly told police that he had shot the cat because the animal wasn’t his and wouldn’t leave his porch.

October 2015/Orangeburg, New York: Westchester.News12.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten drowned after being trapped in a storm drain for approximately two days. Police officers, firefighters, and highway department workers attempted to rescue the kitten but were unsuccessful. They were able to retrieve the animal’s body.

October 2015/Syracuse, New York: Syracuse.com reported that at least eight cats had “disappeared” from a neighborhood, including “several in a colony of feral cats” and two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. A reward was being offered for information about who may have taken the cats, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2014/Woodward, Oklahoma: UPI.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was seen falling from the undercarriage of a car at a busy intersection. A motorcyclist was able to retrieve the animal from the middle of the street and planned to keep the kitten.

October 2015/Greeneville, Tennessee: GreenevilleSun.com reported that a cat who either was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found sitting in a yard with an arrow through his neck. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where the arrow had to be surgically removed. He seemed to be recovering, but his long-term prognosis was uncertain. Anyone with information was asked to call the police department, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Charlevoix County, Michigan: UpNorthLive.com reported that a man was arrested for allegedly trapping an apparently homeless kitten and covering him with toxic spray paint. The kitten sustained multiple breaks to his tail, which became infected and had to be amputated after a good Samaritan found him. He was receiving veterinary treatment.

October 2015/Winter Haven, Florida: TBO.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain near an intersection. Police and firefighters were able to retrieve the kitten, who reportedly wasn’t injured. It wasn’t reported what became of the animal.

October 2015/Oxford, Mississippi: WJTV.com reported that an apparently homeless cat became trapped in a storm drain. Police officers were able to retrieve the animal, who didn’t appear to be injured. It wasn’t reported what became of the cat.

October 2015/Greencastle, Pennsylvania: PublicOpinionOnline.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot twice, allegedly by a neighbor. One bullet went through one of the cat’s front legs and the second through the lungs. The animal’s injuries were so severe that he or she had to be euthanized. The neighbor was charged with cruelty to animals.

October 2015/San Jose, California: SanFrancisco.CBSLocal.com reported that a man was arraigned on multiple counts of felony cruelty to animals for allegedly abducting and killing cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. When police found the suspect, he was sleeping in a car that contained a dead cat.

October 2015/Penn Township, Pennsylvania: TribLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found with an arrow through his neck. The wound had become infected. The cat was taken to a veterinarian and was recovering. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call police, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Dinwiddie, Virginia: WTVR.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with an arrow through his body. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where the arrow was removed. He was expected to recover. Animal control was investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Lancaster, Pennsylvania: LancasterOnline.com reported that an apparently homeless cat and two kittens had become trapped in a storm drain. The cats’ cries were heard by some passing children, who alerted authorities. Responding firefighters were able to lift the grate covering the drain, and an adult cat ran out. A drenched kitten was retrieved, but the second kitten couldn’t be located. An animal shelter took custody of the rescued kitten.

October 2015/Queens, New York: NYDailyNews.com reported that a homeless kitten was trapped in a storm drain for more than a day. Police were finally called but required the assistance of the emergency services unit to remove the cover and crawl into the drain. The kitten was retrieved and taken to a veterinarian for assessment.

October 2015/Hernando, Mississippi: 38632.Unofficial.cc reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with a broken leg. She was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that she had been shot. She was surrendered to the veterinarian, who planned to amputate her leg and find her a new home. It wasn’t reported whether police had been notified, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Jacksonville.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became entangled in the suspension arm of a vehicle. The animal’s cries were heard by the car’s driver after a 15-mile trip. Authorities were called, and fire rescue workers were able to retrieve the kitten, who was then adopted by one of the workers.

October 2015/Lansing, Michigan: MLive.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found by a good Samaritan with an arrow through his body. He was taken to an animal shelter, where he underwent surgery to remove the arrow and was facing a long recovery. Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Gallatin, Tennessee: WKRN.com reported that a firefighter was able to retrieve an apparently homeless kitten who had become trapped in a storm drain. No additional details were provided.

October 2015/Kansas City, Missouri: KCTV5.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found at a sports stadium. He had lost the use of one of his front legs, which had a large open sore on it that was filled with maggots. Despite the injury, he reportedly eluded several attempts to be captured but was eventually caught and taken to a veterinary hospital. His leg had to be amputated, but he was expected to recover and transferred to an animal shelter to be put up for adoption.

October 2015/New Canaan, Connecticut: NewCanaananite.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found on a family’s porch after a rainstorm, shivering and with a dangerously low body temperature. An animal control officer took the kitten to a veterinarian for treatment, and the feline was recovering at an animal shelter.

October 2015/Lolo, Montana: NBCMontana.com reported that as many as 10 cats and a dog who were outdoors without supervision had been shot with blow darts or were missing. One cat returned home with a dart through her chest and was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where the dart, which also went through a lung and her collar bone, was surgically removed. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Bremerton, Washington: SeattlePI.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found within a block of the animal’s home “writhing in pain” from serious burns to the head, back, and tail. A good Samaritan called police, and responding officers took the cat to a veterinarian. The feline had to be euthanized because of the extent of the injuries. An investigation led to the arrest of a 16-year-old boy who reportedly told police that he had doused the cat with butane and set the animal on fire.

October 2015/Cleveland, Ohio: FOX8.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found by a good Samaritan with an arrow through his body and a missing rear paw from a previous injury. The kitten was taken to an animal shelter, where the arrow was surgically removed and his back leg was amputated. After weeks of recovery, he was adopted.

October 2015/Palmyra, Pennsylvania: WNCT.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were shot with arrows. One cat was shot a few months earlier and required the amputation of a rear leg. The other was shot recently and found in a pool of blood on his owner’s front porch. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office and treated, but a hunting arrow had “made its way through the roof of his mouth and into his tongue,” which became necrotic. So he was mercifully euthanized. Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/St. Petersburg, Florida: Fox13News.com reported that a homeless cat and a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were both found mutilated. A woman who was feeding homeless cats in the neighborhood said that 10 to 20 cats in the area had recently “disappeared.” Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Marriott-Slaterville, Utah: Standard.net reported that a man was arrested on “suspicion of torture of a companion animal” after allegedly killing a neighbor’s cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. The cat was reportedly chased by the man and his dog, sprayed with water, and then stomped to death.

October 2015/Kissimmee, Florida: OrlandoSentinel.com reported that three cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were found dead near a bowl filled with rice and beans that tested positive for containing deadly levels of an illegal pesticide. An opossum and a dog were also recently found dead in the neighborhood. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Ansonia, Connecticut: Valley.NewHavenIndependent.org reported that a driver witnessed an apparently homeless kitten run across a busy street and then fall through the grate of a storm drain, where the animal became trapped approximately 8 feet under the street. Firefighters, police officers, and public works and animal control workers were able to retrieve the kitten, who was taken to a veterinarian for assessment.

October 2015/Marietta, Pennsylvania: LancasterOnline.com reported that over a period of several weeks, numerous homeless cats were found killed in one neighborhood. Their apparent causes of death included poisoning, bludgeoning, and mutilation. A police report was expected to be filed, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Jamestown, North Dakota: TheDickinsonPress.com reported that two cats and two dogs who were allowed outdoors without supervision were shot on or near their owners’ properties. One of the cats died after being shot in the head with a small-caliber weapon, and the other was found alive after having been shot in the stomach. The surviving cat was taken to a veterinarian but didn’t live. The dogs were shot in their yards, and both survived and were recovering. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to contact it, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/New Philadelphia, Ohio: TimesReporter.com reported that six kittens who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were apparently killed by dogs who were also roaming outdoors without supervision. Two additional kittens couldn’t be found. The cats’ owner called authorities after seeing the dogs in her yard with the dead kittens, but the dogs were no longer in the area when the dog warden arrived. Anyone with information about the identity of the dogs’ owners was asked to call the warden.

October 2015/Ashland, Massachusetts: Boston.CBSLocal.com reported that an apparently homeless cat became trapped in the engine compartment of a car. The car’s owner heard the animal crying after driving several miles. Firefighters and animal control officials were able to retrieve the cat, who didn’t appear injured and was taken to a local kennel.

October 2015/Buffalo, New York: WGRZ.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was heard crying after becoming stuck in a storm drain. Firefighters used a camera to locate the kitten and a garden hose to guide the animal back to the drain opening. The kitten was then taken to an animal shelter.

October 2015/Lauderhill, Florida: Sun-Sentinel.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped behind the front grille of a vehicle parked at an apartment complex. Responding firefighters were able to retrieve the animal, who then ran off.

October 2015/Bremerton, Washington: Q13FOX.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found on his family’s porch unable to walk, with an injured tail and a broken pelvis. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he had either been hit by a car or abused by a person. Money was being raised to pay for his surgery, and it wasn’t reported if police had been alerted.

October 2015/Eaton County, Michigan: Freep.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found hiding under a deck with a crossbow bolt lodged in his chest. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the bolt was surgically removed and he was recovering. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the sheriff’s office, and no suspects had been identified.

October 2015/Kane County, Illinois: KCChronicle.com reported that “a freshly killed cat” was found wedged under the bumper of a car being driven by a man arrested for drunken driving. A police report said that the cat’s body was too “badly mangled” for responding officers to be able to find an identification tag or check for a microchip.

September 2015/Delaware County, New York: TheDailyStar.com reported that a woman was charged with cruelty to animals after killing a cat who had been abandoned at a trailer park by placing the animal in a sealed paint can, suffocating her. A neighbor said that the suspect was apparently upset and considered the homeless cat a nuisance after the animal tried to get into her trailer through a window when outdoor temperatures dropped.

September 2015/Memphis, Tennessee: WMCActionNews5.com reported that the remains of a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were found on a neighbor’s lawn. Dogs who were often seen roaming without supervision were suspected of killing the animal.

September 2015/Westford, Massachusetts: BostonGlobe.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with a hunting arrow piercing his paw. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where it was revealed that the arrow had also fractured a rib and cracked his sternum, which was pushing on his heart. He had to be euthanized because of the extent of his injuries. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Lubbock, Texas: EverythingLubbock.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found bleeding and dead. A dog who was also roaming outdoors without supervision was suspected of killing the animal.

September 2015/Miami, Florida: Local10.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain and firefighters used water to scare the animal out. The kitten, who was hungry and filthy, was taken to a veterinary hospital and was expected to be put up for adoption.

September 2015/Trenton, North Carolina: WCTI12.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters removed the storm drain cover and retrieved the animal, who apparently wasn’t injured. The caller who reported the incident took the kitten home.

September 2015/Cheswick, Pennsylvania: AKVNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a .22-caliber weapon. The bullet entered his abdomen and also injured a leg. He had to be euthanized because of the extent of his injuries. A police report was expected to be filed, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Albuquerque, New Mexico: WRIC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found cut in half behind a shopping center next to his home. It wasn’t reported if a police report had been filed, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Hialeah, Florida: NBCMiami.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became pinned inside a concrete support wall of an expressway. Using the Jaws of Life, fire rescue workers spent nearly an hour freeing the kitten, who didn’t appeared to be injured. A 911 dispatcher was fostering the animal.

September 2015/Tampa, Florida: WTSP.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain running under a highway. A citizen heard the animal crying and called authorities. Sheriff’s deputies and animal service workers were able to retrieve the kitten. No additional details were provided.

September 2015/New London, Connecticut: NBCConnecticut.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was hit or kicked so hard by neighborhood children that her leg was broken. The animal control department was raising money for her veterinary treatment. It wasn’t reported if a criminal investigation was undertaken.

September 2015/Kendall County, Illinois: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped behind the headlight of a police car. Officers removed the headlight and secured the kitten, who was taken to a local shelter.

September 2015/Pocatello, Idaho: KPVI.com reported that a cat who was homeless or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found dead in a driveway. An eyewitness reported that the cat appeared to have been “hit with something, shot or slammed into the ground.” Another resident said that three or four cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had disappeared or been found dead, and neighbors agreed that the area is “a bad place for cats because some just disappear.” Authorities were alerted, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/San Antonio, Texas: MySanAntonio.com reported that a homeless cat who was being fed by employees at a business was missing for about a week before returning with a bad limp. He was taken to a veterinarian, who found rubber bands wrapped tightly around his paws, cutting off the circulation. One of the cat’s front paws had to be amputated because of the injuries. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Eureka, California: Times-Standard.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot to death. The shooter reportedly told police that he killed the cat because he thought the animal was a rat. It wasn’t reported whether charges had been filed.

September 2015/Frederick, Oklahoma: KSWO.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found lying in a neighbor’s driveway covered with blood. He had been shot in the head at point-blank range, and his teeth had been smashed in. His owner said that she had decided not to seek medical care for the cat, who died from his injuries about an hour later. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Johnston, Rhode Island: ABCNews.Go.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped between two boulders. The property owner heard the animal crying for at least a day before calling authorities. Police officers, firefighters, and animal control workers used the Jaws of Life to rescue the kitten, who was infested with fleas and dehydrated. One of the firefighters planned to adopt the feline.

September 2015/Martinsburg, West Virginia: Inquisitr.com reported that a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found in a neighbor’s backyard with a badly injured eye and unable to walk. The homeowners took her to a shelter, which transferred her to a veterinarian. It was determined that her bloody and badly swollen legs were bound with a zip tie and that she had been shot in the face and eye with a BB gun. It was also suspected that she may have been thrown from a moving vehicle. With extensive treatment, the kitten initially seemed to be recovering, but she was later found dead at the hospital from suspected internal bleeding. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

September 2015/Tampa, Florida: WIVB.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a manhole. A concerned citizen called authorities after hearing the kitten’s cries, and police officers were able to retrieve the animal. It wasn’t reported what then happened to the kitten.

September 2015/Escambia County, Florida: NorthEscambia.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in the wheel well of a car. A sheriff’s deputy and fire rescue workers were able to retrieve the animal, who was reportedly found “hanging on for dear life.” The kitten didn’t appear injured and was transported to an animal shelter.

September 2015/De Pere, Wisconsin: NBC15.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a pipe in an underground storm drain. Firefighters dug around and cut the pipe to retrieve the kitten, who didn’t appear injured and was taken to an animal shelter.

September 2015/Jackson, Mississippi: ClarionLedger.com reported that an arrest warrant was issued on aggravated cruelty-to-animals charges for a woman who posted photos online of a burned cat whom she said she set on fire because the animal and other cats kept coming into her yard. The woman also threatened to burn other cats who came onto her property. It wasn’t reported what became of the burned cat in the photo.

September 2015/Pittsboro, North Carolina: WRAL.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was taken to a veterinarian after her owner noticed that she was limping. An examination revealed that the cat had been shot with two .22-caliber bullets—one pierced her leg and the other her side—from a low-velocity gun sometime in the previous “few months.” A neighbor was suspected but denied shooting the cat, who received treatment and was expected to recover.

September 2015/Orange County, Florida: WESH.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten survived a 45-minute drive in the engine of a car, where she had sought warmth. A passerby heard her cries and called authorities. The kitten was retrieved and taken to a veterinarian for an examination.

September 2015/Grandview, Missouri: FOX4KC.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a car’s engine. Responding police officers were able to retrieve the animal. No additional details were provided.

September 2015/Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania: CitizensVoice.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot in the head with a .22-caliber bullet. The cat was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, and a neighbor was arrested on charges of cruelty to animals.

September 2015/Troy Township, Ohio: PressPublications.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found in some bushes along a highway with his leg torn off. A good Samaritan took him to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that he had sustained a “traumatic amputation,” likely after being hit by a vehicle, caught in a car’s engine, or attacked by another animal. He was treated for a possible infection and was expected to undergo orthopedic surgery.

August 2015/Sacramento, California: Blog.SFGate.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a car’s engine. Responding fire crews were able to retrieve the cat, who was taken to a veterinarian and expected to be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Minot, North Dakota: CrookstonTimes.com reported that an injured homeless cat who was taken to an animal hospital by a good Samaritan was missing part of her tongue, had a shattered jaw, and had a .22-caliber bullet lodged in the fatty tissue of her chest. She was receiving treatment and was expected to be adopted. Authorities were alerted, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Palm Beach County, Florida: BrowardPalmBeach.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision in the same neighborhood were found dead by their owners. The body of one of the cats was reportedly examined by a veterinarian, who determined that the animal had been “sliced with a knife.” Authorities were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/West Bridgewater, Massachusetts: WCVB.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got stuck 6 feet below a storm drain. Firefighters and paramedics worked to remove the drain cover and enter the drain to retrieve the kitten. The animal was taken to a veterinary hospital for assessment and was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Forsyth County, Georgia: WSBTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home limping and with a 20-inch-long arrow piercing his face. He was taken to a veterinary office and was expected to recover. Authorities were investigating a possible suspect.

August 2015/Vandalia, Ohio: WHIO.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in a storm drain. Firefighters worked to retrieve the animal, who was taken to a shelter for evaluation.

August 2015/Fremont, Nebraska: FremontTribune.com reported that a kitten got trapped in a storm drain. Police officers, a veterinarian, and a shelter worker were able to retrieve the kitten, who was described as wet, battered, and infested with fleas. He was treated and put up for adoption.

August 2015/Haywood County, North Carolina: WLOS.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision while his owners were out of town was found impaled with an arrow when they returned home. The owners said that they believe someone shot the cat with a bow and arrow and then broke into their home and left the injured animal on their bed, where he appeared to have suffered for at least a day. He was taken to a veterinary office and euthanized because of the extent of his injuries. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Miami Beach, Florida: Local10.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found in a parking garage unable to move and bleeding from a severe laceration on his head. He was taken to an animal hospital and had to be euthanized because of the severity of his injuries. Police were asking anyone with information to contact the department, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Eureka, Utah: Good4Utah.com reported that several cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were among 22 domestic animals who had disappeared or died in a Eureka neighborhood. A veterinarian who examined three cats determined that they had ingested antifreeze. The cats’ owner said that they convulsed before dying. Anyone with information was asked to call the sheriff’s department, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Fredericksburg, Virginia: WUSA9.com reported that firefighters and police officers worked to remove two manhole covers and enter a drain where an apparently homeless kitten had become trapped. After much work, the animal was retrieved and taken home by a local resident.

August 2015/Colorado Springs, Colorado: FOX21News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in a storm drain. Animal law-enforcement officers worked to retrieve the kitten, who was found “scared, hungry, and dirty,” with a scrape on her nose. She was expected to be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Nashville, Tennessee: WKRN.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision died after ingesting an antifreeze mixture. According to the cat’s owner, the veterinarian who examined him said that he was also apparently kicked so forcefully that his bladder tore. A dog in the neighborhood who was left outdoors without supervision also died from suspected poisoning and may have also been beaten. The dog’s owner planned to file a police report, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Tulsa, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in a drain near a cargo plane at the Tulsa International Airport. Firefighters used a pulley system to lift a grate in order to retrieve the kitten, who was taken home by a worker at the airport.

August 2015/Ironton, Ohio: IrontonTribune.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a pellet gun and received veterinary treatment. His owner said that other cats whom he had allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had also been harmed—one was shot the previous year and another was poisoned two years earlier. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were alerted, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Bellingham, Washington: BellinghamHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found by his owner under some bushes unable to move his hind legs. He was taken to a veterinary office, where it was determined that a metal fragment from a bullet was lodged in his spinal cord. The damage was irreversible, and he was euthanized. Authorities lacked evidence to pursue a case against possible suspects.

August 2015/Roswell, New Mexico: KRQE.com reported that police and firefighters worked to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become trapped in a storm drain. The kitten was given to a woman who heard the animal’s cries and called authorities.

August 2015/Dubuque, Iowa: KWWL.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was rescued from a storm drain by firefighters and city workers after a passerby walking a dog heard the animal’s cries. The kitten was taken to a veterinarian for assessment and was expected to be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Chesapeake, Virginia: HamptonRoads.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was stuck for hours in a PVC pipe that ran underground below concrete and under a large generator. Animal control officers and firefighters used a large shop vacuum to retrieve the kitten, who wasn’t injured and was expected to be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Mountain Home, Idaho: KREM.com reported that police officers rescued an apparently homeless kitten who was stuck at the top of a road sign. The kitten was exposed to severe heat and was “gasping for air” when retrieved. Another kitten was also found in the area, and both animals—who were dehydrated, malnourished, and scared—were taken to a local animal shelter.

August 2015/St. Albans, West Virginia: WSAZ.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was rescued after becoming trapped in a storm drain that was filled with “raging water.” She was placed in a foster home, but her littermates were believed to have drowned in the drain.

August 2015/Buffalo, New York: WIVB.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found in a garage with severe injuries. Covered with orange paint from a paintball gun, she was taken to a local animal shelter, where it was determined that she had been shot directly in the eye, forcing it out of its socket. She was also severely dehydrated. She was receiving veterinary care and was expected to undergo surgery to remove her eye. Investigators were asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Titusville, Florida: BrevardTimes.com reported that three homeless kittens who were regularly fed by a local resident were found with moderate to severe chemical burns. They were taken to a local animal shelter, where they were being treated. One was in critical condition, a second was in serious condition, and the third was expected to recover. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call police, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Queens, New York: DNAInfo.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was seen jumping into the undercarriage of a delivery truck by its driver while stopped at an intersection. Police were called and were able to free the kitten from between a rear tire and the truck bed. The feline had an injured rear leg and eye socket and was taken to an animal shelter for assessment.

August 2015/Farmington, Michigan: FarmingtonVoice.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home “wobbly” and with a bloody, matted spot on his head. He was taken to a veterinary office, where it was determined that he’d been shot with a pellet gun. He had sustained nerve damage, and it wasn’t clear if he would regain the use of one of his legs. A report was filed with the public safety office, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/Dora, Alabama: WTVM.com reported that a firefighter climbed 30 feet into a drain pipe to rescue a trapped, apparently homeless kitten. The kitten was taken to the fire station and put up for adoption.

August 2015/Tulsa, Oklahoma: KTUL.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was rescued by a good Samaritan from a group of children who were using a cigarette lighter to burn his whiskers and trying to drown him. He was taken to an animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption. Investigators were trying to track down the children.

August 2015/Louisville, Kentucky: WDRB.com reported that a cat who had escaped from his home the night before was found in the morning dead from a gunshot wound in the owner’s garage. A dog in the area who had escaped from a yard was also found shot to death. Police were investigating both incidents, and no suspects were identified.

August 2015/San Antonio, Texas: KSAT.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in a storm drain. Police, animal control officers, and firefighters worked to retrieve the kitten by chipping away at the concrete around the drain. The animal was taken to a veterinarian for assessment and was expected to be adopted.

August 2015/Chestertown, New York: NorthCountryGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with a broken jaw and a fractured skull. The animal’s injuries were so extensive that he or she had to be euthanized. The cat’s owners believed that the animal had been intentionally harmed, and a reward was being offered for information leading to a conviction in the case. No suspects were identified.

August 2015/Chester, New Jersey: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in a storm drain under a street. Firefighters were able to retrieve the kitten, who didn’t appear to be injured and was given food. No additional details were provided.

August 2015/Lakeland, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was rescued by firefighters from the wheel well of a car in which he was trapped or to which he clung during a 5-mile journey. The car’s driver went to the fire station after hearing him crying. He was taken to a local animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption.

August 2015/Webster, Texas: Click2Houston.com reported that several cats in one neighborhood who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been mutilated. One of the cats returned home with a gash from her back to her stomach that required 20 surgical staples to close. Another cat was found cut in half. It wasn’t reported if police were notified, and no suspects were identified.

July 2015/Lake Havasu City, Arizona: HavasuNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found alive, trapped in a panel compartment on a boat an hour after the vessel sank in a lake. After the boat was recovered, a mechanic hired to flush water from it found the cat and had to cut away a section of the boat’s upholstery to retrieve her. She was recovering at a local animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption if not claimed.

July 2015/Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania: Observer-Reporter.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by a dog being walked on a leash. The dog’s owner was cited for harboring a dangerous dog and failing to confine his animal.

July 2015/Salem, Oregon: StatesmanJournal.com reported that three apparently homeless kittens were stuck for at least two days in a storm pipe. Firefighters and city employees used axes and saws to cut pipes to reach them. They were taken to an animal clinic for assessment and were expected to be put up for adoption. A box trap was set for the mother cat, who was believed to be still in the area.

July 2015/Cheektowaga, New York: WIVB.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was seen falling into a storm drain. The witness alerted police and animal shelter workers. A responder lifted sewer grates, climbed into the drain, and searched for the kitten for more than an hour before finding the frightened animal covered with filth. The witness agreed to foster and eventually adopt the kitten.

July 2015/Epsom, New Hampshire: WCVB.com reported that a homeless cat was discovered injured by someone who regularly fed him. He was taken to a veterinary office, where X-rays revealed severe damage caused by a bullet that left metal shrapnel throughout a front leg, which would require amputation. Shrapnel was also found in one of his rear legs, where he was evidently shot several months before. He was receiving treatment, and police were investigating. No suspects were identified.

July 2015/Orlando, Florida: MyNews13.com reported that firefighters worked to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become trapped in a storm drain. After the rescue, she was taken to a veterinarian for assessment and was being cared for at the fire station until a home could be found for her.

July 2015/South Bend, Indiana: WSBT.com reported that a homeless cat who regularly roamed a neighborhood was tortured to death, allegedly by children who beat the animal with a brick and set the cat on fire. Authorities were investigating, and the suspects were minors.

July 2015/Scotia, New York: TWCNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a BB gun or an air gun, resulting in a severe eye injury. Police were investigating. No suspects were identified, and no additional details were given.

July 2015/New York, New York: NYPost.com reported that an apparently homeless cat got trapped on a narrow ledge on the Manhattan Bridge. New York City Department of Transportation workers shut down a lane of the bridge for approximately one hour to rescue the cat, who was then assessed by a veterinarian. The animal was expected to be put up for adoption if not claimed.

July 2015/Athens, Alabama: ENewsCourier.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was taken to a veterinarian after returning home sick. An examination revealed that the cat’s symptoms were consistent with ingesting poison. The cat died, and the owner filed a warrant for her neighbor’s arrest. Authorities were investigating.

July 2015/Suwanee, Georgia: CBS46.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was shot with an arrow. The cat was found on a woman’s porch with an arrow protruding from his or her back. The woman was unable to capture the cat but said that the arrow “worked its way out after a few days.” The woman and animal control officials were trying to trap the cat for treatment. No suspects were identified.

July 2015/Tulsa, Oklahoma: KJRH.com reported that three dead cats and bowls of cat food laced with antifreeze were found in an alley where a woman feeds homeless cats. A reward was being offered for information leading to the prosecution of whoever set out the poison, and no suspects were identified.

July 2015/Prince George’s County, Maryland: Patch.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten got trapped in the engine compartment of a car. The driver took the car to a fire station, where workers disassembled part of its front end to retrieve her. She was taken to a veterinary office, where she was treated for minor scrapes and a burn, and was put up for adoption.

July 2015/Omaha, Nebraska: WOWT.com reported that a good Samaritan found a kitten, who was apparently part of a program to trap, neuter, and re-abandon (TNR) homeless cats outdoors, on the street covered with scabs, dehydrated and malnourished, missing patches of hair, and weighing only 1 pound. He had previously been neutered and ear-tipped. The good Samaritan provided him with badly needed veterinary care and was caring for him while he recovered. She hoped to find him a permanent home.

July 2015/South Bend, Indiana: WSBT.com reported that a man was in jail on 11 felony counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting and killing neighborhood animals, including cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. During the investigation, which began after the bodies of animals killed with BB or .22-caliber bullets were found in an alley, it was revealed that the accused had conducted Internet searches on ways to kill feral cats. A judge refused to reduce bond in the case.

July 2015/Henrico County, Virginia: WRIC.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a car’s suspension. The driver pulled into a fire station after noticing the cat stuck under her car. Firefighters were able to extricate the kitten, who appeared uninjured. He was taken to a shelter and expected to be put up for adoption.

July 2015/Pasadena, Texas: KHOU.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was trapped near some drain openings on a highway. A police officer heard the cat’s cries and was able to locate and rescue the animal. The kitten was taken to a local shelter.

July 2015/Keizer, Oregon: StatesmanJournal.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found bleeding and unable to close his mouth. He was taken to a veterinary clinic, where X-rays revealed that he had been shot in the mouth and a bullet remained lodged in his jaw. He was mercifully euthanized. Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

July 2015/Little Rock, Arkansas: ArkansasOnline.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found trapped inside the engine compartment of a car after the vehicle was involved in a collision on a freeway. The cat didn’t appear injured and was adopted by the car’s driver upon the woman’s release from the hospital.

July 2015/Auburn Township, Pennsylvania: PAHomePage.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a crossbow. The animal’s owner found him with an arrow through his leg. He was taken to a veterinarian but died from complications during treatment. Authorities were investigating, and a neighbor was accused of shooting him.

July 2015/Vancouver, Washington: Columbian.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped inside the electrical box of a recreational vehicle. Firefighters worked for approximately an hour and a half to extricate the cat, who was transported by animal control officials to an animal shelter. The kitten was uninjured and would likely be put up for adoption.

July 2015/Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fox17Online.com reported that a homeless feral kitten wandered, in pain and blind, for weeks before a good Samaritan found her and took her to a veterinary clinic. Because of untreated severe infections, veterinarians removed both of the kitten’s eyes. A veterinarian explained that the infection was likely the result of a preventable illness for which vaccinations are available, but “[b]ecause she was an outdoor wild kitty, she didn’t have the benefit of that.” The kitten was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

July 2015/Santa Fe, New Mexico: SantaFeNewMexican.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home with burned whiskers and injuries to his head and eyes. He was taken to a government-run animal shelter, where a veterinarian reported that his mouth had also sustained injuries consistent with burns. The cat was treated, neutered, and returned to his owners. Animal control officials were investigating and believed that he had been intentionally harmed. No suspects were identified.

July 2015/Coalville, Utah: ParkRecord.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot in the eye with a BB or pellet gun. The animal was taken to a veterinarian and underwent surgery but died the next day. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects were identified.

July 2015/Leesburg, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was trapped inside a fence post that was 2 feet underground and anchored in concrete. A responding firefighter was able to extricate the kitten, whom she adopted.

July 2015/Lincolnton, North Carolina: WCNC.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was trapped in a storm drain. Responding firefighters were able to extricate the kitten, and an employee at a nearby store found a temporary home for the animal.

July 2015/Tampa Bay, Florida: ABCActionNews.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was trapped inside the engine compartment of a car for at least one full summer day that included two 45-minute drives and hours parked in the Florida sun. At the end of the day, the car’s owner took the vehicle to a shop, where the kitten was found and extricated. The car’s owner adopted the animal.

July 2015/Warren, Maine: BangorDailyNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was apparently hit by a car. The animal’s owner called a veterinarian to pick up and treat the cat but much later in the day found that the animal was still suffering on the side of a road. The owner cut the cat’s throat with a dull knife in an unsuccessful attempt to euthanize the animal. A veterinarian arrived and took the still-living animal for treatment. The cat died from knife wounds, and the owner was charged with cruelty to animals.

July 2015/Charlotte, North Carolina: WCNC.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found injured in her front yard. She was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that the she had been shot at close range in the chest with a .22-caliber bullet. The bullet traveled through her body and damaged one of her legs so badly that it required amputation. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified. The cat was recovering.

July 2015/Moreno Valley, California: PE.com reported that animal control officers called plumbers to break a hole in a sidewalk and cut away a section of pipe to retrieve a kitten who was trapped under a concrete walkway. The cat was taken to an animal shelter and expected to be put up for adoption.

July 2014/Coral Gables, Florida: NBCMiami.com reported that paramedics with the local fire department worked to extricate a kitten who was stuck in the suspension of a vehicle in a parking lot. A bystander adopted the kitten.

July 2015/Middletown, Rhode Island: WPRI.com reported that a homeless cat who was part of a feral colony in the area was killed by a dog. Because a child was scratched by the cat before he or she died, the animal was tested for rabies. The test results were positive, and the child and dog were both receiving post-exposure rabies treatment.

July 2015/Oceanport, New Jersey: APP.com reported that four apparently homeless kittens who were found smashed to death on local streets had fallen from the engine compartment of a moving vehicle. It was initially thought that they were intentionally killed, but surveillance footage showed that the animals fell from beneath the car in an area where an extensive feral cat population exists.

July 2015/Auburn Hills, Michigan: TheOaklandPress.com reported that a cat who was apparently abandoned or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found badly injured under a car in a parking lot. A good Samaritan took the cat to a veterinary clinic, where it was determined that she had a dislocated hip and a chip was broken off her pelvis. She was receiving medical treatment.

July 2015/Shelbyville, Tennessee: WKRN.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found shot in her yard. Her family was asking anyone with information to contact them. No additional details were given.

July 2015/Bowling Green, Kentucky: BGDailyNews.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped after falling down a 10-foot-deep drainage pipe. An animal control officer retrieved the cat and took the animal to a local shelter. No additional details were given.

July 2015/Kenbridge, Virginia: WTVR.com reported that a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found decapitated on his owner’s front lawn. Police investigated and believed they had identified a suspect, who was a juvenile. They expected to seek formal charges against him.

July 2015/Hackettstown, New Jersey: NJ.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck in the fan blades of a car engine and was believed to have been inside the engine during a 28-mile trip. Public works employees were able to free the cat, who didn’t appear injured and was transferred to a local animal shelter.

July 2015/Oakland, California: ContraCostaTimes.com reported that while stopped at a traffic light, a motorist heard the “unbelievably loud cry” of an apparently homeless kitten trapped in a storm drain. After three days of efforts by Bay Area Rapid Transit and fire department personnel, the cat was retrieved and taken to an animal-placement group. He was expected to be put up for adoption.

July 2015/Westminster, Colorado: Denver.CBSLocal.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot, leaving a metal pellet in his hip. He was expected to undergo surgery to have the pellet removed. He was reportedly one of at least three cats in the area who had been shot. No suspects were identified.

July 2015/Staten Island, New York: SILive.com reported that a witness saw an apparently homeless kitten run across a busy intersection and fall down a storm drain. Police were called and worked for nearly three hours to retrieve the animal. A passerby took the kitten to a veterinary hospital for an examination, and the animal was adopted.

June 2015/Westport, Massachusetts: WPRI.com reported that a homeless cat nearly lost his front foot after he became caught in a leg-hold trap. The cat, who was badly injured, was taken to an animal shelter. After weeks of treatment, he was put up for adoption. No suspects were identified.

June 2015/Broward County, Florida: NBCMiami.com reported that an apparently homeless cat sustained burns to nearly 40 percent of her face. Animal control officers rescued her and reported that she smelled of motor oil and may have been burned when she crawled under a car or into a car engine in an attempt to escape the scorching summer sun.

June 2015/Savannah, Georgia: WTOC.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck in a storm drain. A good Samaritan entered the drain and said that the animal “swam” to her. She planned to foster the kitten.

June 2015/Jonesboro, Arkansas: TheRepublic.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was picked up and taken home by a man whose stepsons dismembered the animal the next day. The animal’s mutilated remains were found in the backyard after one of the children told a neighbor about the incident. Because the children were under the age of 10, they could not be criminally charged but would likely be referred for counseling.

June 2015/Sonora, California: LATimes.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was picked up by the tail and slammed to the ground by a man who claimed that he was angry because another cat in the area had bitten him the previous week. The cat reportedly died from his or her injuries. The man was arrested on suspicion of felony cruelty to animals.

June 2015/Indianapolis, Indiana: TheIndyChannel.com reported that animal control, police, and energy company officials worked for hours to remove a storm drain cover to retrieve a kitten who was trapped. Just minutes after the cat was retrieved, a rainstorm began, and rescuers believed the animal would have drowned if not retrieved from the drain. The kitten was placed in a foster home.

June 2015/Buffalo, New York: WKBW.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot. The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic, where an X-ray revealed that a bullet had shattered her leg bone and become lodged. Her leg required amputation. She was recovering, and authorities were investigating. No suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania: MCall.com reported that police were investigating after approximately a dozen area cats were found dead in yards throughout the community. Some neighbors reportedly told police that stray cats are an issue in the neighborhood. LehighValleyLive.com later reported that the cats died of panleukopenia, a highly contagious, painful, and nearly always fatal virus also known as feline distemper.

June 2015/Mattydale, New York: TWCNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision died after being shot with a BB gun by a neighbor. The man was facing felony and misdemeanor cruelty-to-animals charges.

June 2015/Sterling Heights, Michigan: CandGNews.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by five dogs who were also roaming unsupervised. Neighbors who witnessed the attack called 911, and police issued multiple tickets to the dogs’ owner.

June 2015/Savannah, Georgia: SavannahNow.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found in distress after being purposely soaked with spray paint. Animal control officers took the animal to a government-run animal shelter for veterinary treatment. The kitten was expected to recover and be put up for adoption. Officials asked anyone with information to contact the department, but no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Amherst, New York: WKBW.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck inside the engine compartment of a truck. It took nearly an hour for an animal control officer and a good Samaritan to extricate the kitten, who was taken to a local animal shelter for observation.

June 2015/Queens, New York: DNAInfo.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck inside the frame of a tow truck. A police officer spent more than an hour working under the truck to retrieve the animal. A passerby reportedly took the kitten home.

June 2015/Huber Heights, Ohio: ABC22Now.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was crippled after being shot with a BB gun. She was hit in one of her front legs, which she could only drag and may require amputation. One of the owner’s other cats was previously intentionally run over with a car. Neighborhood children had been seen chasing cats in the area. Anyone with information was asked to call police, but no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Santa Rosa County, Florida: NWFDailyNews.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found suffering from severe burns to her feet by a good Samaritan, who reported that she “could smell the infection and see the bones of her feet.” The kitten was being treated at an animal shelter, and a report was filed with officials. The cause of the burns wasn’t clear, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Indianapolis, Indiana: TheIndyChannel.com reported that a kitten who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home covered with blood after being shot with a pellet gun. One pellet hit him in the back, and another pierced his eye. He was receiving veterinary treatment for his injuries, including severe brain swelling, but his prognosis was unclear. Police were investigating a possible suspect.

June 2015/Athens, Ohio: AthensMessenger.com reported that city fire department personnel spent nearly an hour and a half working to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who was trapped in a storm drain. The kitten was freed and reportedly adopted.

June 2015/Suffolk County, New York: Newsday.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck in the engine of a minivan. Suffolk County Police Emergency Services put the vehicle on a jack and worked under the hood to remove the animal. No additional details were given.

June 2015/Queens, New York: NBCNewYork.com reported that police officers worked for about a half an hour to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who was trapped in the engine of a car. The kitten was taken to the precinct and fed.

June 2015/Oconto, Wisconsin: GreenBayPressGazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home injured. He was taken to a veterinarian where an X-ray revealed a triangular-shaped bullet lodged in his back. He had to be euthanized. Police were seeking information from the public, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Evansville, Indiana: 14News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had become stuck in a storm drain. After initially failing to retrieve the kitten, animal control officials set a box trap in the drain overnight and captured the animal. The kitten was expected to be put up for adoption.

June 2015/Lima, Ohio: LimaOhio.com reported that a man found his cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, badly injured. Responding police officers found the cat under a porch. The animal was not moving and was experiencing labored breathing. They suspected that the cat had been attacked by another animal. The owner was asked to take the cat to a veterinarian but said he had never taken the cat to a veterinarian and didn’t know where one was. With the owner’s permission, police shot and killed the cat to end the animal’s suffering.

June 2015/Glandorf, Ohio: LimaOhio.com reported that a cat who was left outdoors without supervision was seen being taken from her porch by a teen. The owner witnessed a teen running from the porch with the cat, who was screaming. The cat escaped, but the flesh of her tail had been cut off, leaving only bone. She was taken to a veterinarian, who reported that only a few inches of skin remained at the base of her tail, which had to be amputated. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the authorities, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Boynton Beach, Florida: WPBF.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. Police officers lowered a box trap into it and retrieved the kitten. No additional details were given.

June 2015/Woodford County, Kentucky: Lex18.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home dragging her leg. She was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where it was determined that she had been shot in the back with a BB gun. Local animal control officials said that in the past year, at least six cats in the area had been shot with BBs and that several others were missing. One area cat owner told the outlet that a cat whom she regularly allows to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot on four different occasions. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Newberg, Oregon: KPTV.com reported that a cat who escaped her home through an open window returned home with a BB pellet lodged in her face. She was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where she was scheduled for surgery. She was expected to recover. Her owners planned to file a police report, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Brooklyn, New York: Newsday.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped under the engine block of a vehicle. A responding police officer was able to pull the kitten out of the engine compartment, and another police officer adopted the animal.

June 2015/San Jose, California: KTVU.com reported that a dog was recovering after eating dry cat food laced with a white power thought to contain strychnine at a local park. The dog’s owner believed the poisoned cat food had been set out to kill feral cats in the neighborhood. Animal control authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Rosharon, Texas: KHOU.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found in the engine compartment of a car in Rosharon after the driver responded to a mandatory evacuation because of flooding in San Marcos. The woman reported hearing the kitten crying during the approximately 175-mile drive in a downpour but didn’t find the kitten in the engine until the next day. The woman adopted the kitten.

June 2015/Hartford, Connecticut: Courant.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain and could be heard crying. Responding police officers, including a member of the department’s dive team, rescued the wet and shivering animal, who was taken to a veterinarian’s office and was recovering.

June 2015/Nicholasville, Kentucky: CentralKYNews.com reported that three homeless kittens died apparently after falling out of the wheel well of a car—it’s suspected that their mother placed them there in an attempt to keep them warm. A motorist following the car on a highway saw the kittens fall out of the car and onto the road and called authorities, believing that the animals had been intentionally thrown from the vehicle.

June 2015/Chatsworth, Georgia: DaltonDailyCitizen.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was strangled to death. A neighbor told authorities that she witnessed a man “down on one knee choking the cat” and alerted the animal’s owner. The cat’s owner said she found the man holding the dead cat. When asked if he had killed the animal, he placed the cat in her yard and left. The man was convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals and sentenced to three years—90 days in jail and the rest on probation.

June 2015/Lancaster, Pennsylvania: WGAL.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became stuck in a storm drain. The pipe was too narrow for firefighters to fit down, but they were able to lower a 6-year-old girl into it with her mother’s permission. The girl coaxed the kitten to her and handed the animal to rescuers. The kitten was taken to a local animal shelter, where she was expected to be put up for adoption.

June 2015/Fort Washington, Maryland: WashingtonPost.com reported that the Prince George’s County Animal Management Division was called to pick up an injured and apparently homeless cat in the caller’s front yard. The cat was unable to stand and was believed to have been hit by a car. The caller reported “seeing a woman get out of her car and yell at the cat before driving off.” The cat was reportedly picked up and eventually transferred to an adoption group. No additional details were given.

June 2015/Middletown, Ohio: WLWT.com reported that a homeless cat who was beaten and burned by an unknown assailant was mercifully euthanized. The cat was reportedly taken to a veterinary hospital after a witness saw someone beating him and trying to set him on fire. Police were alerted, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Bella Vista, Arkansas: 4029TV.com reported that one homeless kitten was dead and another was recovering from serious injuries sustained in a separate incident. The surviving kitten may have been hit by a car. She required the amputation of one of her legs and was also treated for malnutrition and severe flea and ear mite infestations. She was expected to recover and be put up for adoption. The other kitten was found “flopping around” and was taken to a veterinarian. X-rays revealed that he had been shot three times with a BB gun, striking him in the mouth, neck, and back. He underwent surgery for the BB wounds, a broken leg, and a collapsed lung but didn’t wake up from anesthesia. Local police reportedly told the outlet that they won’t investigate these cases because reports were never filed.

June 2015/Tempe, Arizona: KPHO.com reported that a police officer rescued two apparently homeless kittens just after midnight when one ran in front of her car and another was found terrified and pressed up against a wall in an alley. The animals were dehydrated, weak, and malnourished. Another officer provided CPR to one of the kittens when he or she stopped breathing after the rescue. Both animals were being cared for at an animal shelter.

June 2015/Custer, Washington: Q13FOX.com reported that three cats who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were the victims of human violence. One cat was found beaten to death, and two others were recovering from serious injuries, including a broken leg. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/San Jose, California: MercuryNews.com reported that a man and at least two of his neighbors who allow their cats to roam outdoors without supervision received an anonymous letter threatening to kill his cat if the animal is seen eating garden lizards or defecating in flowerbeds. Anyone receiving similar letters was encouraged to report them to the animal control department. No suspects were identified.

June 2015/Chattanooga, Tennessee: NewsChannel9.com reported that a homeless cat was found dead after becoming trapped in a storm drain. Firefighters were able to capture a surviving kitten who was then taken to an animal shelter.

June 2015/Chanceford Township, Pennsylvania: YorkDispatch.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found dead, hanging by the neck from a piece of twine in a resident’s barn. Anyone with information was asked to contact authorities, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Macon County, North Carolina: WYFF4.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had been roaming around an elementary school was shot and stabbed to death by one of two armed suspects who were eventually captured and arrested. They were charged with multiple criminal counts, including cruelty to animals.

June 2015/Wichita, Kansas: KWCH.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten rode approximately 50 miles in a car’s engine before the driver took the car to a mechanic after hearing the animal’s cries. Mechanics had to remove part of the car’s bumper to rescue the kitten, who was found with blisters on his feet. The car’s owner was caring for the kitten and hoped to find a home for him.

June 2015/Houston, Texas: KHOU.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain on a busy highway. Workers from a local animal shelter used safety harnesses to dangle over a busy intersection for several hours in order to retrieve the kitten. The animal was taken to a local animal shelter for care.

June 2015/Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina: IslandPacket.com reported that a contractor found five newborn kittens crying behind a wall in a home that was being worked on. The kittens were taken to a local animal shelter, and efforts were underway to trap the apparently homeless mother cat.

June 2015/Ithaca, New York: Syracuse.com reported that seven cats who were part of a so-called “managed colony” were found dead or sick after ingesting antifreeze that was mixed with dry cat food and set out in a parking lot where the cats apparently gathered. Of the seven cats, only one survived. Two of the animals were found dead, and the others were euthanized because of the severity of their symptoms. On a later date, CNYCentral.com reported that the number of cats who had ingested the poison had risen to 15, including two more cats found dead. An investigation was undertaken, and no suspects had been identified.

June 2015/Niles, Illinois: ChicagoTribune.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot in the neck with a pellet gun. The bullet evidently “shoved a piece of tissue into her trachea and that was obstructing it.” The cat was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, but six days after being shot, she had to be euthanized after going into cardiac arrest. A police report was filed, and no suspects were identified.

June 2015/Vero Beach, Florida: WPBF.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten who was trapped on a bridge fell approximately 75 feet into the water, cut her feet from trying to grasp onto a barnacle-covered piling, and was rescued by people in a passing boat. She was taken to the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, where veterinarians examined and treated her. A good Samaritan who called officials after seeing the kitten in trouble was fostering her.

June 2015/Austin, Texas: GreenCarReports.com reported that a homeless kitten spent two days inside the engine compartment of a car before the vehicle’s owner took the car to a shop. The vehicle had to be partially disassembled to reach the terrified animal. The car’s owner reported that he had found someone to adopt the kitten.

June 2015/Jurupa Valley, California: MyFoxAtlanta.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was captured by a hawk. A witness saw the kitten fall to the ground about 20 feet into the hawk’s flight. The woman took the kitten to an animal shelter, where the animal was treated for a chest wound. The kitten was expected to recover and be sent to a foster home.

May 2015/Paulding County, Georgia: Patch.com reported that a kitten could be heard crying for more than a week before a good Samaritan called animal control to help find him. Searchers eventually found the kitten more than 6 feet down inside a capped PVC fence post. He was “hungry, wet, thirsty and scared” but was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

May 2015/Columbia, South Carolina: WISTV.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was rescued by a police sergeant after becoming trapped inside a concrete utility pole. The sergeant was flagged down at approximately 4 a.m. by a concerned passerby who heard the kitten crying. The sergeant planned to keep the kitten.

May 2015/Rowlett, Texas: DFW.CBSLocal.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. Firefighters and animal control officials reportedly deemed it too dangerous to try to retrieve the kitten, but an area resident entered the drain and corralled the kitten with the help of neighbors. They were hoping to find a home for the animal.

May 2015/Jacksonville, Florida: News4Jax.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a manhole. The public utility company was able to retrieve the kitten, who was given to a woman at the scene.

May 2015/Jenkins, Kentucky: WKYT.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot in the leg, shattering the bone. The cat was taken to a veterinarian, who reported that the leg would need to be amputated. The cat’s owner suspected a neighbor of the shooting, and officials were investigating.

May 2015/Hendersonville, North Carolina: BlueridgeNow.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in a storm drain. Passengers in a car waiting at a stoplight on a busy road heard the kitten crying. Police were called and were able to raise the storm grate. They lowered a box trap into the drain and retrieved the kitten. The vehicle passengers planned to take the kitten to a veterinarian and either keep the animal or seek another home for him or her.

May 2015/El Granada, California: Patch.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found badly injured. The animal was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that the cat had been attacked by a mountain lion. No additional details were given.

May 2015/Phoenix, Arizona: 10News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was stuck in storm drain for approximately a week before police shut down an intersection for two hours while city workers and a humane society employee retrieved the animal. The kitten was expected to be put up for adoption.

May 2015/Addison, Texas: FOX10Phoenix.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten became trapped in the engine compartment of a car. The car’s owner took the vehicle to a garage after hearing meowing coming from the glove compartment. Mechanics worked for approximately 30 minutes taking apart the car and retrieving the kitten. One of the workers planned to keep the animal.

May 2015/Ronkonkoma, New York: UticaOD.com reported that three kittens were found killed in an industrial area where a woman feeds colonies of homeless cats. The kittens had been decapitated and were lined up next to each other. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Boulder, Colorado: DailyCamera.com reported that one feral kitten was dead and another was in critical condition after falling from the top of a two-story garage structure at a business. Animal control and fire officials rescued four additional kittens from the roof and took them to a local animal shelter. The mother of the kittens, who will reportedly be spayed, remained in the area, where individuals at the business apparently feed her.

May 2015/Post Falls, Idaho: KREM.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. Both cats were found by their owner badly injured and were taken to a veterinarian. One cat was reportedly beyond help after a “bullet went in and shredded his insides,” so he was mercifully euthanized. The second cat underwent surgery for a shattered femur and was recovering. The owner planned to file a formal police report, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Picayune, Mississippi: PicayuneItem.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found by his owner with “blood pouring from his eyes, ears, nose and throat.” The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital where at least eight BBs were found lodged in his eye, head, and larynx. A witness reported seeing a local child shoot the cat while he was in a trap. The cat was expected to recover after having one of his eyes surgically removed. The incident was reported to the local sheriff’s department, which was reportedly in contact with the youth court.

May 2015/Marietta, Georgia: WSBTV.com reported that firefighters worked for more than an hour to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become stuck in a storm drain. A local neighbor said the animal had been heard screaming in the drain. Local residents reportedly planned to take the kitten to a veterinarian for evaluation.

May 2015/Albuquerque, New Mexico: KOB.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found gutted in a resident’s backyard. The homeowners believed that the animal was killed in a religious ritual. No additional details were provided. Police and animal control officials were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Lebanon, New York: DemocratHerald.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a pellet gun. A police officer who responded to the report said that an X-ray showed a pellet lodged inside the cat’s leg. No additional details were given.

May 2015/Bend, Oregon: KTVZ.com reported that firefighters worked to remove an apparently homeless kitten from a 20-foot-deep dry well in which he or she had become lost or stuck. After the rescue, animal control officers transported the kitten to a veterinary hospital. No additional details were provided.

May 2015/Athens, Georgia: OnlineAthens.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found bleeding from the abdomen under the owner’s porch. The cat was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where an examination revealed that the animal had been shot with a .22-caliber bullet. The cat was expected to recover. A police report was filed, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Mentor, Ohio: FOX8.com reported that firefighters worked to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become stuck inside a drain pipe under a driveway. After being extricated from the pipe, the kitten was transported to a veterinary hospital for evaluation.

May 2015/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philly.com reported that a kitten born under a shed had become trapped between the shed and a concrete wall. The owner of the property could hear the kitten crying but couldn’t get to the animal. Two emergency responders from a local fire station helped free the kitten. The kitten as well as the animal’s mother and siblings evidently remained homeless.

May 2015/Riverside, Missouri: FOX4KC.com reported that a homeless kitten was found bleeding and whimpering in a yard. The homeowner took her to a veterinarian’s office, where an examination revealed evidence that she had been repeatedly kicked, shot with a pellet gun, and intentionally burned with a chemical on her hindquarters, ears, and tail. She was also malnourished. The kitten was receiving treatment, and a worker at the veterinary clinic planned to adopt her. The kitten’s mother was reportedly spayed and released back into the yard where the kitten was found tortured. It wasn’t reported if police had been alerted, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Galliano, Louisiana: DailyComet.com reported that emergency responders from a local fire station worked for approximately 90 minutes to rescue an apparently homeless kitten who had become trapped inside the wall of a home. It was believed that the kitten had entered the residence through a hole in the attic. The rescued kitten was taken to the local animal control shelter, and the hole in the attic was repaired.

May 2015/Middletown, New Jersey: APP.com reported that a driver saw an apparently homeless kitten “holding on for dear life on top of [a] highway’s concrete median barrier.” Police shut down the highway for approximately an hour while officers worked with animal control to capture the terrified animal. The kitten was taken to a local animal shelter.

May 2015/Polk County, Florida: WFLA.com reported that animal control and fire department workers rescued an apparently homeless kitten who had fallen into a storm drain. The kitten was removed from the drain, but no additional information was reported.

May 2015/Houston, Texas: Click2Houston.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was recovering after being shot with an arrow. Police, fire, and animal control officials rescued the cat from a culvert, and city veterinarians removed the arrow. Someone had reportedly adopted the animal, and authorities reportedly told the outlet that “no one will be prosecuted for animal cruelty in this case because the cat was a stray.”

May 2015/East Naples, Florida: ABC-7.com reported that three cats who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been found dismembered. A sheriff’s deputy responding to a report believed that a machete or an ax was used to chop the animals in half. Authorities were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

May 2015/Oneida, Tennessee: WBIR.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was being treated at a veterinary hospital after being found trying to escape a brush fire by a good Samaritan. The kitten had difficulty walking because of burns to her feet. She was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

May 2015/Denver, Colorado: 9News.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten had squeezed through a hole in some cinder blocks and become trapped in the basement of a home. After much searching and by following the animal’s cries, the homeowners found the kitten and planned to take him or her to a veterinarian.

May 2015/Greensboro, North Carolina: WFMyNews2.com reported that a car that was driven from Kentucky to North Carolina was taken to an automobile dealer for an inspection after the occupants heard the cries of kittens under the hood. Two separate litters of kittens were found in a plastic compartment in the car’s engine. The animals were taken to a local veterinarian and then transferred to an animal shelter, which put them in foster care. One of the kittens reportedly died, some were adopted, and some were still up for adoption.

April 2015/Sheffield Township, Ohio: Chronicle.NorthcoastNow.com reported that four kittens were found fatally shot in the head and neck and left in a box next to a driveway. Neighbors were trying to capture the mother cat, who was apparently homeless and didn’t appear injured. A report was filed with the sheriff’s office, and no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Charles City, Iowa: WCFCourier.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by two dogs who were also roaming without supervision. A neighbor reportedly heard the cat screaming and witnessed the attack. Each dog held one end of the cat, and the dogs were “ripping her to pieces.” The dogs were captured by police officers and taken to a local animal shelter. The dogs’ owner was charged with animal control violations.

April 2015/Clarksburg, West Virginia: WBOY.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot. He was found by his owners crying with a hole in his back and a pellet lodged near his spine. He was apparently under veterinary treatment and had “limited use of his hind legs and tail.” It wasn’t reported if police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Phoenix, Arizona: 12News.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found bleeding and terrified, trapped in fencing on a ledge along a busy freeway. He was rescued by a good Samaritan who took him to a local animal shelter, where veterinarians reportedly found that he was suffering from “severe trauma,” including a burn to a front leg, blood crusted in and around his nostrils, and a severely injured jaw.

April 2015/Sedgwick, Kansas: WRIC.com reported that a homeless cat was taken to a veterinarian after being shot with an arrow. The arrow, which went through the side of the cat’s cheek and about an inch behind his eye, was removed at the veterinary hospital, and the cat was recovering. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact the police department. No suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Lawrence, Kansas: LJWorld.com reported that police were investigating after an apparently homeless cat underneath a mobile home was struck by an arrow, pinning the animal to the underskirt of the structure. The cat was rescued by a local humane society representative and rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where the animal had to be euthanized because of the severity of the injuries. No suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Fort Edward, New York: News10.com reported that a homeless cat was found with an arrow through his upper neck. A woman who had been feeding the cat took the animal to a veterinarian’s office, where the arrow was removed. The cat was reportedly adopted, and authorities were investigating the incident. No suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Woodford County, Kentucky: WKYT.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found inside a car’s engine and sustained burns to his tail. He was recovering at a local animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption if his owner didn’t come forward.

April 2015/Richmond, Indiana: WHIO.com reported that authorities were investigating after a good Samaritan found an apparently homeless cat badly injured in a trailer park. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where an examination revealed that the animal had sustained severe burns “down to the muscle on the cat’s chest” and that one “leg was burned to the bone.” The cat was mercifully euthanized, and no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Plattsburgh, New York: WCVB.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found by her owners covered with blood. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where X-rays revealed that she had been shot. Metal was embedded in her flesh, and the bone in one of her legs was shattered. She was expected to survive. Police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Callaway County, Missouri: ConnectMidMissouri.com reported that a woman who had been feeding homeless cats in her yard found four of the animals dead and several others “vomiting and foaming at the mouth.” Poisoning was suspected. Authorities were notified, and no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Glendale, Arizona: AZCentral.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot and killed by a neighbor, who told police that the animal repeatedly came into his yard. The man was arrested and charged with one count of cruelty to animals.

April 2015/Tullahoma, Tennessee: TullahomaNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was recovering at a veterinary hospital after being badly injured in a car engine. The cat likely sought shelter in the engine from reported subzero temperatures and wasn’t discovered until the car’s owner drove more than 10 miles. The animal was badly burned and had deep cuts in several places, exposing bone. After several weeks of treatments for severe infections, he required amputation of his tail and a foreleg. He was expected to be put up for adoption after he recovered.

April 2015/Gwinnett County, Georgia: WSBTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot and killed by a neighbor. The neighbor told a police officer that he believed the animal “was coming on his property to pass fleas to his dog.” An official investigation was underway.

April 2015/Kenosha, Wisconsin: KenoshaNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was found crawling, unable to walk and in intense pain, and suffering from severe burns to all four of his paws. He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he was receiving treatment. An investigation was reportedly undertaken to determine the cause of his injuries, but no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Bedford, Texas: Star-Telegram.com reported that two feral kittens had been found with what a police spokesperson described as “very large” wounds near their genitals and legs, which appeared to have been inflicted weeks before. One of the kittens was so badly injured that he or she had to be euthanized, and the other animal was reportedly recovering. Police were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Seal Beach, California: OCRegister.com reported that an apparently homeless cat, who was regularly fed at a residence, was killed and thrown at the home’s front door. Investigating authorities determined that the cat sustained a neck injury. A suspect was charged with one count of cruelty to animals.

April 2015/Niagara Falls, New York: Niagara-Gazette.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision returned home dragging a large steel-jaw trap that had clamped onto his leg. He was taken to a veterinarian and was expected to recover. Police were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Loxahatchee, Florida: WPTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors unattended was attacked and killed by two dogs who were also roaming outdoors unattended. The cat’s skull was crushed and her neck was broken in the attack. Animal control was investigating.

April 2015/Denver, Colorado: KDVR.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was injured in a truck engine, where he had likely sought warmth from frigid temperatures. The cat required intensive care at a veterinary medical center and had to be fitted with an external device to stabilize bones in his jaw while they healed. He was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

April 2015/Gilbert, Arizona: AZCentral.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was taken to a veterinarian after being found injured. X-rays revealed that the cat had been shot twice, resulting in a broken leg that was embedded with metal fragments. The animal was expected to recover. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating.

April 2015/Marrero, Louisiana: NOLA.com reported that a man was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after shooting a neighbor’s cat whom he said repeatedly climbed on his vehicle. The cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, was found injured and was then taken to a veterinarian’s office, where it was determined that he or she had been shot with a pellet gun and was bleeding internally. The cat’s injuries were so severe that the animal had to be euthanized.

April 2015/New York City, New York: NYDailyNews.com reported that a cat found walking on the shoulder of a busy city highway was rescued by a good Samaritan and taken to a veterinarian. An examination revealed that the apparently homeless young cat was pregnant, had been shot in the hip, and was covered with cuts and bruises. It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating.

April 2015/Washington, D.C.: WJLA.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been shot in the eye with a BB gun. The cat’s injury appeared to have occurred days before he was found. He was receiving veterinary treatment, and a reward was being offered for information on the case. No suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Campbell, Ohio: Vindy.com reported that police were investigating after a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found outside his or her house with an arrow through the cat’s midsection. The animal was reportedly taken to a veterinarian. No additional details were given.

April 2015/Sardinia, Ohio: WCPO.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with a .22-caliber bullet. The cat was taken to a veterinarian but reportedly died. Police were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

April 2015/Grants Pass, Oregon: 12NewsNow.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision received an electric shock while on top of a power pole and then fell 25 feet to the ground. He was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where he was being treated. One of his legs may have to be amputated.

March 2015/Stockton, California: FOX40.com reported that residents of a neighborhood say that at least two cats were found beaten to death near an elementary school. One of the residents stated, “There have been a rash of incidents involving mutilation and torturing of cats in the community.” The area reportedly has had “a problematic history with strays.” Evidence was being gathered to hand over to police, but no suspects were identified.

March 2015/Houlton, Maine: BangorDailyNews.com reported that a good Samaritan found an injured cat and took him to a local animal shelter. A veterinary examination revealed that he had a broken neck, spinal cord damage, broken ribs, and what appeared to be chemical burns on his feet. Because of the injuries, the cat was unable to use his back legs or urinate and defecate on his own and was suffering from “chronic issues affecting his ability to eat and drink on his own.” He was reportedly being cared for at the shelter. It wasn’t reported whether authorities had been alerted or were investigating the cause of his injuries.

March 2015/Jonesboro, Arkansas: WNEM.com reported that a police patrol officer found an apparently homeless cat with an arrow through the animal’s leg. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where the arrow was removed, and he or she was expected to recover. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

March 2015/Lindon, Utah: SLTrib.com reported that an apparently homeless cat taken to a local animal shelter by a good Samaritan required immediate medical attention for third-degree burns starting halfway down the back of his head and covering half of his back. A veterinarian reportedly treated the cat for burns and a severe upper respiratory infection. It wasn’t known whether the burn was intentional. The cat was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

March 2015/Boston, Massachusetts: MyFOXBoston.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten was found with his paws frozen to a metal fence. A good Samaritan poured warm water on the kitten’s feet to free him from the fence and rushed him to an animal hospital. The kitten was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

March 2015/Perry, Florida: WCTV.tv reported that a man who was feeding approximately 30 cats around his home and business had found nine of the animals dead from suspected poisoning. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified. It wasn’t reported whether any efforts were being made to bring the remaining cats indoors.

March 2015/Venice, California: ABC7.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by two dogs who were being walked on leashes. The incident was captured by a video surveillance camera, and authorities reportedly told the cat’s owner that because the dogs’ owner had apparently been trying to control the animals, it was not a criminal matter.

March 2015/Utica, New York: UticaOD.com reported that a man was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting a homeless cat with a crossbow. Responding to reports of a man shooting a crossbow and the sounds of an animal screaming, police found the cat dead on a sidewalk with a 1-inch wound in the animal’s neck and a similar wound on the opposite side of the animal’s body. A necropsy confirmed that a crossbow had been used to kill the cat.

March 2015/Missoula, Montana: NBCMontana.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was missing for “a couple of days” before returning home with a steel-jaw trap clamped onto his leg. The cat was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where his leg reportedly had to be amputated at the shoulder. His owner told the news outlet that several area cats had recently “disappeared or been killed under mysterious circumstances.” The local police department was seeking information about the trapping incident. No suspects had been identified.

March 2015/Indianapolis, Indiana: TheIndyChannel.com reported that a cat had recovered enough to be adopted after being found frozen to a water meter and suffering from such severe frostbite that three of his feet had fallen off the previous winter. The cat was reportedly up for adoption to an individual or family who was “understanding and willing to help with his issues.”

March 2015/Cherokee County, Oklahoma: TahlequahDailyPress.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had been shot with an arrow. A veterinarian reportedly retrieved the cat for treatment. The cat’s owner met with sheriff’s deputies about the incident, but no suspects were identified.

March 2015/Epping, New Hampshire: UnionLeader.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found dead in the engine compartment of a car belonging to the animal’s owner. The woman reportedly drove her car to a local store and was alerted by a passerby that there was smoke coming from the car’s engine compartment. The woman opened the hood and found the cat dead.

March 2015/Eugene, Oregon: RegisterGuard.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was injured after being shot with a pellet gun. The animal was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where a pellet was removed from “between bone and muscle at the base of his tail.” Two other cats in the area had reportedly recently “disappeared.” A police report was filed, but no suspects were identified.

March 2015/Brunswick, Maine: WCSH6.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had undergone emergency surgery at an animal shelter after getting severely burned, likely after seeking warmth in a car engine that was then started. The cat reportedly would require additional surgery but was expected to survive. If not claimed by an owner, the cat was expected to be put up for adoption.

March 2015/Prattville, Alabama: MontgomeryAdvertiser.com reported that a man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cruelty-to-animals charges and admitted that he killed a neighbor’s cat with a pellet gun after the animal wandered into his yard, which confined his two dogs. The dogs reportedly attacked the cat twice before the cat was shot to death. The dogs’ owner was given a 10-day suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $100 in court costs.

February 2015/Oviedo, Florida: ClickOrlando.com reported that two so-called “neighborhood cats” who had been found limping were taken to a veterinary clinic, where X-rays revealed that they had been shot with a pellet gun. One of the cats had apparently been shot three times, and the other had been shot four times. The examining veterinarian reported that one of the animals would “probably lose one of [his or her] legs.” It wasn’t reported whether law enforcement had been alerted, and no suspects had been identified.

February 2015/Liverpool, New York: Syracuse.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found lying in the front yard of her house, bleeding. The cat was taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that she had up to 23 BBs in her body and one of her legs was broken. The cat was expected to recover. An investigation was undertaken, but no suspects had been identified.

February 2015/Las Vegas, Nevada: MyNews3.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot and killed while sitting on a fence surrounding the owner’s yard. Police were reportedly investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

February 2015/Orono, Maine: BangorDailyNews.com reported that a cat who was evidently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was attacked and killed by a local bobcat. Area residents were being warned to keep cats indoors, and a trap was set to capture the bobcat.

February 2015/Eugene, Oregon: RegisterGuard.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found with an arrow protruding from her body. She was taken to a local animal shelter, where the arrow was removed. The animal reportedly recovered and was returned to her owners, who reportedly vowed to keep her indoors. It wasn’t reported whether an investigation had been undertaken.

February 2015/Kauai, Hawaii: TheGardenIsland.com reported that two cats and a dog who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision died from suspected poisoning. The dog, who was reportedly homeless, was found convulsing and was taken by a good Samaritan to a local shelter, where he died. A cat showing signs of illness was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where he also died. Tests on the cat revealed that he had ingested antifreeze. Another cat was found dead under a shed, and poisoning was suspected. Police were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

February 2015/Frenchtown, New Jersey: NJ.com reported that an apparently homeless cat, who had such severe frostbite that she could “barely stand,” was recovering at an animal shelter. The bandages on her frostbitten feet were reportedly being changed twice a day, and she was expected to undergo surgery to remove severely damaged toes. She was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

February 2015/Houlton, Maine: BangorDailyNews.com reported that an apparently homeless cat who had been found lying in a snowbank was receiving treatment at a local animal shelter. A shelter spokesperson told the outlet that “[h]er ears are actually going to fall off. They’re quite frostbit on the top, which happens to cats when they’re outside because the skin is so thin, and the pads of her feet are also falling off due to frostbite.” The cat was expected to be adopted.

February 2015/Fayetteville, Arkansas: THV11.com reported that a man was charged with cruelty to animals after he told police that he had shot a cat in the head with an arrow. After the shooting, a woman apparently house-sitting for the cat’s owner reportedly found the cat behind a couch on the home’s porch. The cat was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where the arrow was removed. The cat was expected to survive.

February 2015/Vancouver, Washington: KPTV.com reported that two cats who were allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had apparently become trapped under an overturned wheelbarrow, where they were found dead. Animal control officers investigating the incident found evidence that the animals were alive when they were trapped with no food or water, and the officers believed that the animals may have been intentionally trapped and left to die. No suspects were identified.

February 2015/Clarkston, Washington: KLEWTV.com reported that a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision died after being shot by what a veterinarian believed was a rifle. A reward was being offered for information leading to the conviction of the shooter. No suspects were identified.

February 2015/Orange County, New York: NBCNewYork.com reported that three cats rescued after being abandoned outdoors were emaciated and experiencing early signs of frostbite. One of the cats had also been shot with a BB gun, and pellets remained lodged near broken bones in one of his legs and sternum. He also had kidney and bladder infections. He was being treated at a local animal shelter and was expected to recover and be put up for adoption. It wasn’t reported what happened to the other two cats.

February 2015/Salem, Oregon: KOIN.com reported that a woman found her cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, injured. The cat was taken to a veterinarian’s office, where X-rays revealed that fragments of metal were imbedded in the soft tissues of one of her legs and that she had an injury “consistent with a high-impact ballistic (gunshot wound).” The cat was mercifully euthanized because of the extent of her injuries. Police were reportedly investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

February 2015/Medfield, Massachusetts: Medfield.WickedLocal.com reported that in three separate incidents, local citizens had found cats suffering from varying degrees of frostbite and taken them to a local animal shelter. One of the cats, who was found on the side of an interstate highway, had such severe frostbite injuries that she had to be euthanized. The other two lost the skin on the bottom of their paws but received treatment and were adopted.

January 2015/Wentworth, North Carolina: WFMyNews2.com reported that a cat who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot and killed. Authorities were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

January 2015/Holland Township, New Jersey: NJ.com reported that two dogs who had been roaming outdoors without supervision were believed to have killed three cats who were also roaming without supervision. An elderly woman reportedly looked out her window and saw the dogs tugging on one of her cats—one dog was gripping the cat by the head while the other pulled the animal by the tail.

January 2015/Wentworth, North Carolina: WFMYNews2.com reported that the local sheriff’s department was investigating a report by a citizen who said that his cat, who was apparently allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, had been shot and killed. No suspects were identified.

January 2015/Bay City, Michigan: MLive.com reported that a homeless cat who was reportedly part of a colony of cats and had been sterilized and re-abandoned outdoors was found frozen to the steps of the front porch of a woman who fed the colony. The woman noticed that the cat also had a severe eye injury. The cat was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that the animal had damage to both eyes that was likely “deliberately” inflicted. Surgery was performed to remove both of the cat’s eyes. The feline was expected to recover and be placed in a home where he or she will live indoors. Rewards were offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever harmed the cat. No suspects were identified.

January 2015/Redford, Michigan: Freep.com reported that a declawed cat who had been abandoned or allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found bleeding and with his two front paws frozen to a porch. An animal control officer who was responding to the report rescued the cat, whose paw pads had reportedly come off while he was struggling to free himself. A neighbor reportedly heard meowing the night before the cat was found, and it is believed that the animal had been exposed to the elements overnight, if not longer. The cat was being treated at a veterinary hospital and was expected to recover.

January 2015/Indianapolis, Indiana: ABCNews.Go.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had become stuck in a drain pipe for at least 24 hours after his paws had become frozen to the concrete. Animal control and police officers rescued the animal, who was then taken to the city’s animal shelter. The shelter apparently transferred the cat to a local spay/neuter clinic, where he was treated for extremely swollen feet and possible frostbite. The cat was expected to be put up for adoption after his recovery.

January 2015/St. Louis, Missouri: StLouis.CBSLocal.com reported that an apparently homeless kitten who was likely seeking warmth in the engine of a car was injured when the car was started. The car’s owner took the young cat to the local animal control shelter, where the injured animal’s tail and a portion of his ear had to be amputated. The cat reportedly recovered and was put up for adoption.

January 2015/San Diego, California: ABCNews.Go.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found stuck inside the bumper of a car after a 10-mile trip. An animal control officer rescued the cat and took her to a local animal shelter. The cat was not injured and was eventually reunited with her family.

January 2015/Watertown, Wisconsin: WDTimes.com reported that a cat described as an “outdoor cat” was recovering from burns he had sustained after he fell into a burning fire pit used by a construction crew to dispose of debris. The cat was transported to a veterinary hospital, where he received “thousands of dollars” worth of veterinary care, and was returned to his owners.

January 2015/Oak Forest, Illinois: Patch.com reported that a cat who was part of a “registered colony” of apparently homeless cats had been shot in the head with a pellet gun. The animal was found injured and taken to a veterinary hospital, where it was determined that a bullet had reportedly become lodged in the animal’s brain. The cat apparently died three days later. A reward was being offered for information in the case, but no suspects had been identified.

January 2015/Altoona, Pennsylvania: WHEC.com reported that 14 cats who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision were killed in a fire that reportedly started in the cats’ bedding, which was located in a carport. Firefighters reportedly said that one of the animals might have knocked over a light bulb that had been placed near the bedding in an attempt to keep the cats warm.

January 2015/Rogersville, Missouri: OzarksFirst.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was shot with an arrow. His injuries were so severe that he had to be euthanized. The local police department was reportedly handling the case, and no suspects were identified. There was reportedly another recent incident in the area in which a cat was shot with a rifle, but no further details were given.

January 2015/Tampa, Florida: WFLA.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was hit by a car and presumed dead. The animal was then reportedly buried. The cat, who apparently was still alive, clawed his way out of the grave and returned home. He was taken to a local animal shelter, where he was reportedly diagnosed with “a broken jaw, a cracked palate and deep wounds.” The shelter, which has an emergency fund, had apparently paid for the cat’s treatment.

January 2015/Glen Carbon, Illinois: Fox2Now.com reported that after running errands, a woman took her vehicle in for maintenance. At the shop, an apparently homeless kitten jumped out from under the hood. The cat was taken to an animal shelter and was expected to be put up for adoption.

January 2015/Miami, Florida: WSVN.com reported that city officials worked for hours to rescue a cat they believed had fallen into a pipe that ran under the street and become stuck. The cat was apparently trapped in the pipe for at least 24 hours before being rescued and taken to a veterinary hospital. The animal was expected to recover.

January 2015/Salem, Oregon: StatesmanJournal.com reported that at least nine cats who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision had died after ingesting antifreeze. It was suspected that the animals had eaten food laced with the poison. A local man was arrested and charged with aggravated animal abuse in connection with the incident.

January 2015/Halifax, Massachusetts: 959WATD.com reported that firefighters were called to rescue a cat who had become trapped inside a car engine, after the animal’s cries were heard and reported by a convenience store worker. The car’s owner reportedly told firefighters that the cat had been trapped and crying for “several days” and he’d thought “the problem would resolve itself.” The apparently homeless cat was adopted by a local family.

January 2015/Fayetteville, Arkansas: 5NewsOnline.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found with an arrow through his head. Animal services reportedly transported the animal to a veterinary clinic, where the arrow was removed. The cat was expected to recover. The treating veterinarian said, “The arrow was straight through the head. In through the cheek, out through the nose.” Officials said that it damaged the animal’s sinuses. Law-enforcement officials were investigating, but no suspects had been identified.

January 2015/Falmouth, Massachusetts: WCVB.com reported that a man was charged with maiming a domestic animal, cruelty to animals, and improper storage of a firearm after he had admitted to shooting an arrow at a cat who was in his yard. The animal was reportedly found in a neighbor’s yard with an arrow protruding from his body. The arrow was removed at a veterinary hospital, but a fragment remains embedded in his body. The cat was expected to survive but required continuing treatment. The man claimed that he shot the cat because he believed the animal was feral and said the cat had been harassing the quail he keeps on his property.

January 2015/Jacksonville, Florida: News4Jax.com reported that an apparently homeless cat was taken to an animal shelter after he had been found injured and with bullet wounds. Veterinary staff at the shelter determined that the cat had been shot 25 times with BB gun pellets and with a larger caliber bullet, which had become lodged near his spine. One of his legs had to be amputated, and he sustained nerve damage to his remaining rear leg. The cat was expected to survive and be put up for adoption. It was not reported if police were investigating, and no suspects had been identified.

January 2015/Tampa, Florida: TBO.com reported that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department was investigating after a cat who had escaped her home and spent the night outdoors was found with a 7-inch crossbow arrow through her head. The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic, where she underwent surgery to have the arrow removed. She was also reportedly treated for a cut in her ear, a broken vertebra in her tail, and insect bites. No suspects were identified.

January 2015/Indian River County, Florida: WPTV.com reported that a cat who had been allowed to roam outdoors without supervision was found outside her home with an arrow protruding from her chest. The cat was reportedly taken to a veterinarian for treatment but died a few hours later. It was not reported whether police were notified, and no suspects were identified.

January 2015/Chicago, Illinois: ChicagoTribune.com reported that an apparently homeless cat had been rescued by city workers after she was found with the tips of her ears frozen off from exposure. The 1-year-old cat’s fur was also badly matted, and she was emaciated, weighing just 2.5 pounds. The cat was taken to the city’s animal control shelter and then transferred to another shelter to receive veterinary treatment. She was expected to recover and be put up for adoption.

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