Moment man savagely kicks cat into the road then it dies days later
A man suspected of brutally kicking a cat which later died has been arrested.
Horrific footage shows a man lashing out at the pet with his foot in Hastang Fields, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire shortly before 7am on September 16.
The video, which some may find distressing, was caught on a doorbell camera and shared online in the hope of identifying the suspect.
Police say they have now arrested a man in connection with the footage, which shows a man petting a dog while the cat watches on, before he walks past and kicks it.
The distraught owner said the cat was called Lenny and died just days after the incident.
They told MailOnline Lenny was the ‘street’s cat’ and everyone knew him.
The woman, who has not been named, said: ‘At first I was just gobsmacked – I was like: “How can you do that?”
‘It’s just a shock to a lot of people in the street. Even people that came around the area to walk their dogs – he wasn’t even bothered.
‘So for that man to do what he did – he wouldn’t have even gone up to his dog.
‘He’s so used to people passing him and just being friendly.
‘After it happened he stayed in the house a lot more, didn’t want to go out. He just literally went downhill from there.’
She added neighbours were left devastated by the cat’s death.
‘I think I just want to know what was going around in his head to do something like that,’ she said. ‘I just think it’s awful. It’s very frustrating and upsetting just to see it.
‘For him to be allowed to keep his own dog with how he treated it in the street – I dread to think what it’s like behind closed doors.
‘My older boy who lives at home now, he just couldn’t believe it when I told him.
‘It feels a bit empty. I’m used to him in the morning – he comes in the door and gives me a meow to say “morning”.’
Warwickshire Police said in a statement: ‘Many of you will have seen a distressing video showing a man kicking a cat in the Leamington area.
‘We would like you all to know that a criminal investigation is underway.
‘A suspect was quickly identified and arrangements have been made to interview him.’
An RSPCA spokesperson said: ‘This footage is extremely distressing and upsetting to watch, and we offer our sympathy and condolences to Lenny’s owners on the loss of their elderly pet.
‘We would urge anyone with first-hand information about this incident to contact the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018.’
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