A 51-year-old doctor from Brindisi, in Italy’s southern Puglia region, is under investigation on suspicion of abusing and killing stray cats between 2023 and 2025, according to a notice concluding the probe issued by local prosecutors.
The suspect allegedly followed a consistent pattern: locating cats near established colonies, trapping them in cage traps and then torturing and killing them.
An animal rights activist said a hammer was used in some cases to sever tails and paws and to crush skulls. In certain instances, the cats’ eyes were allegedly glued shut.
In one case, a cat’s tail was cut off after it was struck in the head. In another, a cat suffered a crushed skull, was loaded into a vehicle and later thrown from the window, lifeless. Another cat was run over. Additional injuries documented in the investigation included blows to the head and body and deep cuts.
Five additional attempted killings were not completed for reasons beyond the suspect’s control, including the appearance of passersby or the escape of the cats. In one incident, a cage trap was placed on a sidewalk in Piazza Stano, and the suspect allegedly moved away and waited. In other cases, he reportedly carried a hammer or lured cats with food.
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Suspect allegedly targeted cats near known colonies, trapping them in cages before torturing and killing them
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Legally protected cat colonies
Urban cat colonies in Italy consist of groups of stray cats living in fixed areas and managed under municipal programs that typically include sterilization, feeding and veterinary supervision. These colonies are explicitly protected by law, and harming cats belonging to them constitutes a criminal offense.
The incidents first surfaced in the media in November 2024 after a wave of complaints on social media about what was described as a “cat torturer.” Animal rights activists warned at the time of a recurring pattern of abuse, and the AIDAA animal welfare association announced a 3,000-euro reward, about $3,300, for information leading to identification and conviction.
The investigation, conducted by the central investigative unit, included surveillance, monitoring and the use of security cameras near the cat colonies. During a search of the suspect’s home, authorities seized a cage trap, a stick and a noose. Forensic tests confirmed that traces of cat blood and hair were found on the trap, the stick and inside the suspect’s vehicle.