‘Big Cat’ Causing Stir In Detroit Is Shot Dead

[Jesus Malverde]

An exotic-looking “big cat” is no longer roaming a northwest Detroit neighborhood.

Several residents called animal control officers after seeing the feline — by some reports described as nearly four feet tall — roaming the streets.

“It got out of its owner’s home about a month ago through a screened-in window. So, we have been out there day and night, trying to set traps out to get this cat,” Laura Wilhelm-Bruzek, with Paws for the Cause Feral Cat Rescue, told WWJ Newsradio 950.

Wilhelm-Bruzek said she spoke to reporters on Saturday who said the cat was killed.

“They gave me a picture of a cat that was deceased, that was shot by a neighbor. So, we already had a good suspicion that the cat was deceased,” she said.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/08/27/big-cat-causing-stir-in-detroit-is-shot-dead/

[Scuba]

1. This is sad ...

“It was simply ignorance. A Savannah cat is a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat, and that is it. They’re larger cats, they’re very beautiful, they have a lot of stripes and spots, which I think was more intimidating to people than even the size of the cat, because the cat wasn’t overly huge, about 25 pounds and maybe when it was sitting was probably two feet tall. But they’re very sweet animals, they’re kind of like the dog of the cat world” she said.

[get the red out]

2. Very sad

And sickening. Human beings just sicken me to no end. I think I hate my species. I wish the people who demanded its death would be told how completely ignorant and disgusting they are.

[maxsolomon]

3. shot by a neighbor? why?

poor kitteh.

[sarisataka]

4. I'm not a cat person...

but I didn't need to read the article to know what kind of cat it was. So sad for the family.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Sad. Again with the guns, destroying life.

[PowerToThePeople]

6. Did it have a license?

If it had a collar and license, maybe it would not have been shot.

I will probably get chastised for this, but I shoot feral cats from time to time in my neighborhood. The population appears down currently, but there have been times when they were out of control. Our house smells of cat urine after rainstorms and they destroy flower and regular gardens. I would like to be 100% rid of feral cats.

[Chan790]

12. Chastized? I can't disappoint. Factually, you should arrested and have your RKBA legally-curbed.

I'd like to make a felony crime out of the very behavior you just admitted to as a means of curbing the RKBA of individuals clearly unfit to own a gun.

I hate kids, but if I shot every homeless child in my neighborhood because they pee outside which makes the neighborhood stink and rustle my garbage cans looking for food scraps, I'd expect that the DCMPD would come arrest me. I'd like to 100% eradicate homeless kids...but I do not believe the solution involves my gun. This is because I am a fairly-sane well-adjusted person and not someone who thinks it's okay to shoot living beings just because they're a nuisance.

[PowerToThePeople]

13. it is not a naturally occuring species.

It is an invasive species that harms natural occurring species. I also have trapped them and turned into animal control. I do not own any "real" guns. Never have, never will. I just have a high power .22cal air gun. But, it works. The end result is the same whether they are shot or turned in to be gassed by animal control. One dead feral cat.

Trying to equate homeless children to feral cats is quite a stretch.

[MerryBlooms]

14. In most towns/cities there are laws regarding unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits-

besides that, you shouldn't be shooting any critters within a neighborhood, you should be trapping. Shame on your disgusting behavior.

[PowerToThePeople]

15. Maybe you need to work on stopping feral cats from occuring in the first place.

I had a cat that we needed to get rid of. I loved the cat, didn't want to get rid of her, but I had to. It cost me 100$ to have the humane society take her in. Luckily I had the means to pay the fee. I hope that they found a good home for her.

But, there are people that do not have the means to pay a fee such as this. So, they just release the cat to the streets. There was a time when there were at least 25-30 regular feral cats running around my neighborhood. Currently it is down to around about a dozen that I have noticed. It is a big problem.

edit- I live in a fairly dense urban environment with many apartments near by.

[MerryBlooms]

16. There are too many feral/unwanteds, however

shooting them with your gun and either killing/maiming is not the answer.

There are a lot of us doing what we can to help with this issue.

Pets should not be considered disposable.

[PowerToThePeople]

18. I agree.

It is sad that these animals (that were once pets) are on the streets.

Every spring I see new litters of baby ferals =( But, I think the granddaddy old male cat passed away sometime this last year. Maybe that is why their numbers have dropped. He was a busy boy for several years though.

[MerryBlooms]

20. It really is a horrible situation for all concerned- cats/environment/humans. n/t

[Link Speed]

7. Damn, a Savannah. They're as friendly as a puppy. nt

[Warpy]

8. Shit.

I did post the original article to someone whose Savannah cat was stolen a few months ago because it looked just like him.

He was a goofy cat, very tame, although he would demonstrate some pretty extreme behavior problems if he was confined without exercise.

If it's the same cat, this is a tragedy. Frightened people get stupid very quickly.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. I'm sorry about the loss of this animal too.. but....

It was an exotic pet that was roaming loose. If there are small children in the neighborhood (and there usually are) then I understand why someone would err on the side of caution. The article says it had been loose for a month. At some point it would have turned feral and possibly also bred to create other large feral cats.

It is to bad it got out and that the owners couldn't find it first.

[Capt. Obvious]

10. The most shocking aspect of this story

is that people still live in Detroit.

The neighbor probably shot it for food.

[shenmue]

11. Wish they could have tranquilized it

And taken it to a sanctuary.

[dionysus]

17. +1

[graywarrior]

19. Damn it all!

I was hoping they'd rescue it.