NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana SPCA is warning New Orleans neighbors about a possible cat killer in Mid-City. A string of cat killings in the area have pet owners on edge.
"I find it very shocking and cruel," said neighbor Karen Fernandez. "I think it's horrible."
Another neighbor Cornell Marigny said, "I think that's a disgrace. I think that it's inhumane and very, very disgusting. What would possess you to spend your time to kill at cat?"
Mid-City is home to several feral cat colonies. According to the SPCA, at least 10 cats have been killed in the neighborhood in recent weeks.
Animal Control is now investigating acts of cruelty in the area bounded by Orleans, Tulane, Murat and Jeff Davis.
Tests performed on one of the dead cats last week determined that it was not killed by a car or another animal.
"It could have been stepped on," said LA SPCA Chief Executive Officer Ana Zorrilla. "It could have been kicked. It could have been hit with a heavy object. Clearly something that was intentionally done to kill this cat and that is what is most troubling to us that this is an intentional act of cruelty to an animal."
The Louisiana SPCA says if someone is killing the animals, in an attempt to control the feral cat population in the neighborhood, there are more human ways to accomplish that goal.
"When you just remove the cats or euthanize them, you tend to have more cats move in that are not spayed or neutered, so you end up with a larger population of cats than if you fix them and put them back into those same neighborhoods," said Zorrilla.
Studies show that when people are cruel to animals, it could be the first step in doing harmful things to humans as well. Neighbors hope cops catch the alleged cat killer before things progress to the next level.
"That's like psychopathic things going on when you're hurting an innocent animal, that really can't even really defend itself," said Marigny. "You man, you need to be put away. Locked up, behind bars or something."
Neighbors say animals are welcome in Mid-City. People who hurt them are not.
"It's a peaceful neighborhood," said Fernandez. "We're friendly to animals, cats, dogs, there's even a roster in the neighborhood that we all take care of."
The Louisiana SPCA would like to hear from people in Mid-City.
If you find a dead cat or found one in recent weeks, call Animal Control at 504-368-5191, extension 100.
SPCA would also like to hear about any threats of cruelty against cats or other animals in the neighborhood.
