First off, call your animal shelter and find out what the rules are concerning this and let them know so they can investigate. You, yourself cannot bring an animal cruelty charge but the law enforcement officials can.

Laws like this vary from county to county, state to state, city to city. So start first with the local authorities and let them know the situation.

I can tell you this, that they may possibly not be allowed to fire those things in a neighborhood, because I had a friend who was involved in this same situation and that is what the animal shelter told her to call the police right away if she caught them in the act in the city that she lives in.

Better yet, go down to the animal shelter since you know they shot this cat in the face and they may have you sign an affidavit – I think sometimes you get better answers if you are face to face.

It may not so much be about the strays but if they are allowed to shoot these things in a neighborhood and if that is the case, then they would not be allowed to do this in the neighborhood at least. That is usually what makes all the difference. There could be as well some animal cruelty laws regardless of if an animal is a stray or not. It may not be a state law, but it could be a county or city law that can be enforced. Even if the animal shelter can’t or won’t do anything they may be able to tell you what the law is or tell you where to go to find help for this situation.

Well in most cities you are not allowed to shoot air guns or bb guns in city limits – it’s not about the owning but the shooting of them.

that makes me sick. however, i suggest you don’t confiscate the gun because you have no legal power to do so and may get charged for taking it.

It is illegal here to shoot any kind of weapon, including air guns within the city limits. They can cause bodily injury. I would call the cops and say it is an animal cruelty case. At least if the cops are snooping around, maybe the kids will think twice about doing what they are doing.

Have you contacted your vet, they may have some contact information for local groups who can act on this ?

OMG, so awful. Do you know if the cat was okay? He could have put an eye out. I hope the stupid kid puts his own eye out. Serve him right.

Poor baby is probably laying low for a few days. I don’t suppose the neighbours rely on above ground rain water tanks or something you can slip a LARGE dose of epsom salts into? Won’t kill them but they’ll have the cleanest intestines in the state for a few weeks.

You are better off finding out if it is legal to shoot the BB gun in the neighborhood as harm to people – that is what get’s the police out.

its not a matter of threatening to call the cops if they do it again,, they already shot the cat. i dont think the type of gun matters

call the cops and say you want them to report animal cruelty,, you were a witness so you will likely have to sit down with some paperwork with the police. if police dont act on it, contact the local media

Gosh, some people are just sick. Hope you can report them, next time they might shoot a child, it did happen in Britain – first shooting at squirrels and cats, then at other kids. Poor little cat.

I had to deal with this issue a few years ago. My across the street neighbors young boy(then10years old) got a bb rifle or similar and was playing with it in the front yard. My cat at the time was indoor/outdoor and I knew he was in the front yard, so I kept an eye on the boy through my window. Sure enough, he pointed the rifle towards my house and I assume my cat. I shouted out the window for him not to dare point his gun towards my house or my cat. I think I startled him sufficiently that while I saw him several times after with the rifle, I never actually saw him point the gun towards my house again. If I thought he was eying my or my neighbors cat, I would either go outside or make a show of opening my window. He would usually stop when he saw me.

I agree with Mike about the injured cat, it’s already been injured and should have been reported. It’s a shame that your animal control doesn’t seem to care about the welfare of cats in general. Sad. I think if there are a lot of houses in the neighborhood, then if the kids are aiming at an animal, there will be a house in the way and by that reasoning, people. It’s not really a stretch to say that they are endangering the people in the neighborhood as well, and that will get the police’s attention.

Honestly, when in doubt, there is a non-emergency police line for questions.

I agree, it would be best to report them. If something else happens in the future it will make a huge difference if there’s already a complaint about them on file.

Have you seen the cat anymore? A friend of ours had the same thing happen to a stray cat that he fed.The neighbor shot it with a BB gun, right in the eye. It became badly infected and he assumes the cat died since it stopped coming around shortly after that. Maybe this cat could be trapped and taken to a vet?

Well I’m glad the cat seems to be ok. He really should find himself a better place to stay though…