Published: September 21, 2009 04:37 pm         

Ms. Takes: Cat abuse at the hands of a human rat

It’s a long story, but when I was a kid we once ended up with 14 cats.

I mention this to establish that I am not physically or psychologically opposed to cats. I do prefer dogs, which are less aloof and more inclined to sit on your lap and keep you warm on a cold night, but I would never hurt any animal, certainly not a cat.

So, when I read that a man, certainly no gentleman, from New York City had killed at least four of his girlfriend’s cats I paled. It was a small item so you may have missed it, but it had my attention.

It seems that the man in question moved into his girlfriend’s apartment and soon thereafter both of her cats died — one of poison and the other after suffering a beating. I’d have dumped him right then, but some folks are slow learners.

At any rate, the two cats didn’t make it and the former cat owner, missing her pets, went out and adopted two kittens a few weeks later. One of these soon died in a fall(!), obviously not one of the breed that can fall and land on its feet. The other adopted kitten developed a decided limp, so it was returned to the animal shelter from whence it came. It probably saved its life.

She still didn’t get it.

Our heroine adopted a second pair of cats a month later. One soon died of a broken neck while the other mysteriously disappeared. It is not recorded whether she checked the back yard for any suspicious new mounds of earth.

At this point she began to smell a rat. Maybe she didn’t suspect that the rat had two legs instead of the usual four, but something tipped her off. Her live-in was arrested on charges, including felony and animal cruelty. He has pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

The story ended there. I’d like to know if his girlfriend had dumped his stuff on the curb while he was incarcerated. I know I would have.

Liz Ciancone is a retired Tribune-Star reporter. Send e-mail to opinion@tribstar.com.