Man Posts Video Confessing to Killing Cats
The incident began when a man from Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Spain, posted a video on social media. In the video, he claims to have killed approximately 40 community cats. He described his actions in detail, including running over about 10 cats crossing the road with his car and killing several others that entered his private property.
The man defended his actions in the video, insisting he was “doing a good thing.” He argued that cats are predators that hunt other creatures and maintained that people who want cats should keep them strictly indoors. Furthermore, he criticized the local city council for allowing volunteers to feed the community cats and verbally harassed a volunteer responsible for managing the local cat colony.
Animal Protection Group Intervenes and Reports to Police
Upon learning of the video, a Spanish animal rights political party responded swiftly, announcing they would file a formal complaint with the Spanish Guardia Civil. The organization stated they would submit the man’s self-published video as key evidence, urging the police to conduct a full investigation and determine his potential criminal liability.
The party pointed out that the incident is egregious and that the man’s public bragging challenges public decency. The act has already triggered a wave of anger and condemnation from netizens on social media.
Legal Consequences for Animal Cruelty
The animal protection group emphasized that under current Spanish law, the man’s actions could constitute a crime. Spain’s Law 7/2023 on the Protection of Animal Rights and Welfare, passed in 2023, clearly states that the management of community cat colonies is the responsibility of local governments. City councils are authorized to empower professional organizations or volunteers to manage, neuter, care for, and feed these cats according to established protocols (the TNR method).
The law also specifies that community cats are legally protected animals, often consisting of abandoned domestic cats and their offspring, and are not the personal property of those who feed them. Intentionally killing a protected animal is punishable as a criminal offense under the Spanish Penal Code.
Public Appeal and Next Steps
In addition to reporting to the police, the animal rights party has issued a public appeal, asking anyone with information about missing cats in the area or other relevant leads to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The organization has also made formal demands to the Valdepeñas City Council, urging them to take immediate action:
- Assess the current status of community cat colonies within their jurisdiction to determine the exact number of missing cats.
- Provide necessary protective measures for the remaining surviving cats.
- Ensure the personal safety of the volunteers who care for these animals, protecting them from harassment or threats.
