Authorities investigate cat death north of The Junction

Police and the Seattle Animal Shelter are investigating a cat death reported north of The Junction this morning. The details are disturbing, so we’re putting this behind a jump from the home page:

We want to stress that authorities have NOT said at this point that they believe it is any kind of crime. But we have received several inquiries about this and, so, are reporting what we know because otherwise, it seems like the kind of incident that can start racing around the rumor mill at the speed of light.

On 40th SW near Holy Rosary, early this morning, someone came across what appeared to be half of a cat. They say it appeared to have been “cleanly cut” in half.

They called police. So when we found out about this hours later, we contacted both police and the Seattle Animal Shelter. Police media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson had no information beyond a notation that the cat’s remains had been taken to the Southwest Precinct. From there, they were waiting for Seattle Animal Shelter officers to respond and take over.

We checked with Seattle Animal Shelter executive director Don Jordan, who handles media inquiries. He said his officers had yet to report in, but he cautioned that almost always, these cases turn out to be animals killed by other animals, regardless of how it appears. He mentioned raccoons in particular; we of course have reported on numerous coyote sightings here in West Seattle. (And, looking around online, we found this 2008 story from Whidbey Island.)

We will be checking with SAS tomorrow to see if any conclusions were reached.

50 Replies to "Authorities investigate cat death north of The Junction"

  • Eric G May 14, 2012 (4:06 pm)

    I grew up in rural Jefferson County. It was fairly common to find remains of animals like what was described in the post. We always assumed it was coyotes, though often times the animal was first killed by a car, then the remains partly eaten by a coyote or raccoon.

  • Rumbles May 14, 2012 (6:19 pm)

    All the more reason not to feed, or otherwise encourage raccoons no matter how cute they are.

  • ryanl May 14, 2012 (6:20 pm)

    I grew up in Southern California & we had a cat that ended up like this, cut in half, cleanly. I think it had to do with kids who were into Satanic rituals… Maybe those suspicious fires & the cat last night were part of some sort of evil ritual? I found a link of those stories –
    http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-10/local/me-1288_1_pet-owners

  • Lura Ercolano May 14, 2012 (6:47 pm)

    This is common coyote behavior.

  • JoAnne May 14, 2012 (7:35 pm)

    Our neighbor’s cat was found like that last summer–cleanly cut in half. They also live on 40th near Holy Rosary.
    .
    Everyone who saw the mutilation agreed that the cut was too clean to be from coyotes. They were adamant about it.

  • 4thGenWestSide May 14, 2012 (8:08 pm)

    My parents found the cat. Literally cut exactly in half very clean. Very straight. Unless a coyote has an engineering degree and opposable thumbs to hold a blade, I would keep your pets inside for now. Seriously. My dad has seen a lot in his many years, and was VERY disturbed by it. He didn’t think it happened where they found it on the sidewalk as there was no ***zero*** blood.

    I sure hope it was a very exacting animal. I really do.

  • melanie May 14, 2012 (8:16 pm)

    This Happened to our cat about a month ago. Cleanly cut in half like an incision, I thought it was very suspicious. We are at 36th and Dakota

  • MLJ May 14, 2012 (8:16 pm)

    I am just learning about this now, but I am a neighbor and this is the third time this has happened in less than a year. I have been assuming raccoons or coyotes but this is getting weird. We reported this to animal control both times and they ignored us. I’m glad someone is finally looking into this. It seems like someone could examine the remains and tell if it was an animal or not pretty easily.

  • 2 Much Whine May 14, 2012 (8:28 pm)

    Satanic coyotes, perhaps?

  • LE May 14, 2012 (9:34 pm)

    Wild animals do indeed make very straight cuts with their mouths. These stories happen all the time, with people saying it can’t be natural because it’s a straight cut. But eventually someone checks for saliva, or someone witnesses the coyote biting another cat in half, and the mystery is solved.

  • melanie May 14, 2012 (9:41 pm)

    Ours was like that too, no blood at all. It completely puzzled me, i am positive it was not an animal. None of the organs were disturbed, the incision seemed surgical and no sign of a struggle.

  • (required) May 14, 2012 (10:04 pm)

    Well, maybe a vet will do a volunteer exam of the cat — or what’s left? Any local vets reading this blog?

  • ad May 14, 2012 (11:02 pm)

    This is just awful.

    RIP to the cats…

  • Mels May 15, 2012 (1:29 am)

    This is something that happens all the time and commonly freaks people out. The cat was probably dead for about two to three days. Long enough to have another animal eat about half of it, and have maggots try to finish it off.
    The blood of the dead animal pools on whatever side of it is lowest, and maggots and other insects drink it, thus the ‘drained of blood’ thing. They also eat in tiny close lines, giving any chewed parts a look of surgical precision.
    This is what started the whole mutilated cows phenomenon, and it’s been proven time and again to be natural.
    http://okelley.org/TravelPhotos/RickandReneeOKelley/CriminalInvestigator/CattleMutilation/tabid/708/Default.aspx

  • C May 15, 2012 (2:19 am)

    Once found a cat head in the middle of the street on early AM walk. No blood, no body… cut was very clean too…pretty random but I remember there were lots of cats missing @ that time of year & if you live anywhere near a park/green belt in this city….Coyotes are everywhere…

  • JB May 15, 2012 (6:04 am)

    I did see a coyote at 41st & Genesee early Monday morning. It came from the south on 41st and went in the brush just east of SLHS

  • Smitty May 15, 2012 (6:43 am)

    I saw it too.

    Not ruling it out, but I find it hard to believe this was caused by another animal.

    Picture a fish with his head cleanly sliced off at a angle. I mean a really clean line.

    Also, you would think the other portion of the cats body might show up in the vicinity, but nothing yet.

  • Sherman Potter May 15, 2012 (7:25 am)

    Ryanl-
    Interesting article from the 1989 LA Times.
    Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho were swimming with “Satanists” and “Satanic Rituals” in the 70’s and 80’s (so we were told). It was in the newspaper nearly every week.
    Even today I won’t drive through Rathdrum, Idaho. Also; if you find yourself in West Spokane, pray for your soul. Don’t go to the Lutheran College out-buildings (haunted).
    These “Satanists” were used as an excuse for many random acts of anything. Whether there was a “Ritual” involved was dependent upon a teenager with long hair or black makeup living within five miles of an unexplained event.
    I don’t believe the cat deaths are the work of these so-called “Satanists”.
    Usually there is an explanation from a veterinarian regarding how an animal has specific wounds. If the answer is “Satanists”, I would present the following:
    Unexplained animal mutilations have been going on for a very long time (see: Cattle, Sheep).
    Sorry, but I have to bring up the connection: “A Strange Harvest”.
    There are many other documentations of similar events that have preyed on animals with similar outcomes.
    Or, it could be coyotes.
    Not saying one way or another.
    R.I.P. Cats
    Sorry for your losses.

  • Stephanie May 15, 2012 (8:18 am)

    Is there a color / gender description of the cat? I called the shelter, and it is not listed on their recording from the last two days. My cat has been missing since the 5th, and I want to make sure it wasn’t him!
    Maybe “4thGenWestSide”….you might have a description??

  • T- Rex May 15, 2012 (8:22 am)

    These stories are just plain scary, the first thing that comes to my mind is a Jeffrey Dahmer lurking in West Seattle. Creepy.

    Poor cats, mine stays in anymore, too many wild animals and too many freaks!

  • bridge to somewhere May 15, 2012 (8:35 am)

    Too bad the cat died, but on another note, cats really shouldn’t be outdoors. They absolutely destroy song bird populations. If you aren’t responsible enough to keep the cat safe inside your house, then don’t blame raccoons or coyotes for eating them–because *they* are actually native to the area, whereas felines are not.

  • bridge to somewhere May 15, 2012 (8:42 am)

    Sherman, that’s interesting you say [all of] that, for most critical media investigations have determined the Satanist scares of the 70s and 80s were totally overblown. The reports got so absurd yet accepted that respectable news agencies (e.g., CBS Evening News) and Congress wondered if Satanists encoded Satanic messages in albums (to be heard when played backward)! Can you believe that?! In retrospect, it was all bunk and overblown, of course.

  • Tessa May 15, 2012 (9:14 am)

    Yes, please post gender and color, anything you can about the cat. I have had two cats missing, one since Sat, one since Sunday. We are new to the area. Please. Thanks.

  • Stephanie May 15, 2012 (9:40 am)

    Darn it…Going through all of the posts, and locations of coyote sightings, I am thinking that the coyotes are getting our cats! Mine is missing from 38th & Genessee. And Kenny’s are missing from 40th & Genessee, and a post from JB said he saw a coyote on 41st & Genessee on Monday morning. I would still like to hear of a gender / color from the one deceased one found if possible.

    • WSB May 15, 2012 (9:49 am)

      Would have to come from the folks who say they saw it – the notes we got said only, a cat. And yes, coyotes are everywhere. We haven’t published sightings lately but will have some recent ones in a mapping project that’s been awaiting its debut. No matter what or who caused this poor kittycat’s death, the only guaranteed way to keep them safe is to keep them indoors – it’s not just coyotes, it’s raccoons, other animals, cars, and yes, on occasion, cruel people – and if anyone is worried about converting an outdoor cat to indoors, there are local animal advocates who have tons of advice. Just a note for consideration. Cats do go missing and yet come back – sometimes weeks, months later – but as the keeper of the WSB Pets page, I am always sad to know people are losing their furry friends for whatever reason; I know how much everyone loves their animal companions. I’ve been a cat person all my life and currently share WSB HQ with two cats adopted as adults from local shelters. Anyway, for anyone interested in indoor conversion, we’ve had the links in previous discussions over the years courtesy of local folks and if someone doesn’t see this and find them first, I’ll go looking later. And still plan to check today to see if SAS found anything out about this one (though we were warned they may never know) – TR

  • Smitty May 15, 2012 (9:53 am)

    Don’t know the gender, but it was black.

  • evergreen May 15, 2012 (10:08 am)

    “A coyote’s carnassial (“cheek”) teeth are capable of making clean, knifelike cuts through carcasses, as coyotes sometimes dismember prey in order to transport portions to their den to feed pups. Municipal authorities and homeowners have sometimes found remains of dead house cats and mistakenly assumed they were mutilated by people practicing animal sacrifices, when in fact they were killed by coyotes.”

    http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74135.html

  • dbsea May 15, 2012 (10:18 am)

    IMO it’s taking a large risk letting your pets wander. Of course cats love to do it, it’s natural to them. But is it worth all the illness and nasty deaths that result? Plus they poop in everybody’s yard, not a huge deal, but the only poop in my yard should be mine.

  • miws May 15, 2012 (10:22 am)

    Another suggestion that has been offered up many times here on WSB over the years, by Furry Faces Foundation, and other animal advocates/groups is an outdoor cat enclosure.

    .

    A quick Google showed that there are apparently pre-made. as well as DIY kits.

    .

    Mike

  • FSPD May 15, 2012 (11:11 am)

    i think that may be my parents black cat. did it look like a runt or full grown because theirs is smaller

  • Smitty May 15, 2012 (11:29 am)

    Oh man, I don’t want to ruin anyones day, but it was a smaller cat. Hopefully someone else can confirm.

  • Kadee May 15, 2012 (11:30 am)

    The owners of the missing cats don’t need to be lectured on how to care for their pets, they’re simply here looking for insight on their beloved pets that are missing. I think they’re going through enough. What’s done is done, they don’t need to hear whether you think they were right or wrong. If you don’t have helpful information please refrain from lecturing.

  • Tessa May 15, 2012 (12:05 pm)

    Smitty thanks for the info – unfortunately any news is better than no news. My cats (Kenny) are also black. I know Stephanie’s cat CeCe is black with bits of white. My cats are long haired but currently shaved into a lions trim…. Basically fluffy balls on their tails an feet with a lions main. Just mentioning since the cut might be noticeable.

  • Stephanie May 15, 2012 (12:48 pm)

    Amen to that Kadee!! Thank you!

  • scubafrog May 15, 2012 (1:28 pm)

    Tessa ty, and for anyone who has not seen a cat with a lion haircut/lion trim I’m including a link. I’ve been working on my Persian’s (Scrambles) majestic lion cut for years, his mane is remarkable – and he looks like a mini alpha-lion direct from the African savanna. BTW He is an indoor cat, because I’m a responsible cat owner.

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/melismashable/50-cats-with-lion-haircuts

    Lion cuts aren’t only aesthetic, they are quite practical;

    Back to the topic at hand: I hope that if there are human perpetrators, that they are caught.

    Let’s keep our pets safe – WSB outlined the threat our cats and dogs face today.

  • FSPD May 15, 2012 (1:28 pm)

    my parents cat is black with long hair no special marking just plain black with brown eyes,he is on the smaller side of size kinda has a bushy tail.

  • Tessa May 15, 2012 (3:43 pm)

    Scubafrog – thank you for the link to pics of what the lions trim looks like on cats. I think your comment about being a “responsible pet owner” was completely unnecessary.

  • Cait May 15, 2012 (4:24 pm)

    Just goes to show you that there are people who must truly believe there’s never a wrong time to be self-righteous. Maybe think before you post something uppity and uncaring on here. Imagine your cat got cut in half and you had some stranger taking an opportunity to flex their “I know more than you about cat ownership” muscles. Yeah, this is a pretty anonymous place sometimes and people say things they normally wouldn’t, but we are still all neighbors here and at least one of us is suffering a pretty greusome and disturbing loss here. I have no respect for anyone who would take the opportunity to reiterate what is said here over and over just because they seem to like the sound of their own posts. Yes, everyone knows cats are better off inside. We’ve all been proslyetized to ad nauseum about this and ya know what – sometimes cats sneak out front doors… it happens. Sometimes its the owners, sometimes it’s a guest, sometimes homes are broken into. This is NOT at ALL the time. Thoughts are with the owners… what a horrible thing to have happen.

  • bridge to somewhere May 16, 2012 (10:06 am)

    Cait: speaking of “there’s never a wrong time to be self-righteous.” Pot calling the kettle black?

  • furor scribendi May 16, 2012 (10:21 am)

    Hope everyone can calm down and think what the other person might be going through; not every statement for protecting ones pets is self-righteous, not every cat owner unprotective. Let’s wait official word on what killed the cat and chill out.

  • Cait May 16, 2012 (11:32 am)

    My whole point is there is a time and a place for shaking the finger at someone for having a cat outdoors and that this isn’t it. If that’s self-righteous, then I guess I am. These are your neighbors, not strangers. If you would take this opportunity to preach to someone, it’s not neighborly especially without knowing details as furor said.

  • bridge to somewhere May 16, 2012 (12:43 pm)

    So perhaps we should post the “keep cats inside your house” message on the WSB articles about Coleman pool, if your logic is that an article about a cat being killed outside isn’t the right place to mention that pretty much every vet and animal welfare person says that cats shouldn’t be allowed to roam outside in the first place.

  • bridge to somewhere May 16, 2012 (12:48 pm)

    And my point wasn’t, “I know more than you,” (which, I might add, really condescends and trivializes my point of view); my point was that a dead outdoor cat is a good time to tell people who don’t already know that every animal advocate recommends that cats remain indoors. Pretty presumptuous of you to claim that everyone has been “proslyetized to ad nauseum” regarding keeping cats outside; I stand by my belief that not every good, concerned cat owner knows that keeping a cat outdoors is frowned upon.

  • Cait May 16, 2012 (3:50 pm)

    My point is that it’s the definition of the worst time for someone who either already knew and made a mistake or didn’t and now can’t do anything about it. I think my point was made, I’m done here. Hope there is some follow up about what is found to be the cause of the incident.

  • Tony May 16, 2012 (6:50 pm)

    :”-( I think that’s my cat:-/ I live not even 2 blocks away and my cat has been missing for over a week now.

  • RLA May 16, 2012 (9:31 pm)

    I live on 40th and Genesee my cat was the first that i know of that was reported as a suspicious killing to the Seattle police Dept and Seattle Animal control last July. I truly believe this is not the work of any coyote or another animal.

    He went missing on a Tuesday, he was like clockwork, always waiting for me at the door at 5pm after i got home from work. I always kept him in at night. He never came home that evening, we searched for him up and down the block and around the neighborhood. On Thursday he was found by the postman, laying on my neighbors lawn 2 houses down in plain sight for everyone to see. Unless coyote’s have gotten very clever, to my knowledge i have never known a coyote to take their meal and bring it back and lay it nicely on the ground leaving no messes.

  • dc68 May 17, 2012 (6:46 am)

    To the guy above who said cats shouldn’t be outside — that’s ridiculous. I’m 44 yrs old and have had cats all my life and am an avid birdwatcher. I have feeders for chickadees, house finches, oregon junco, bushtits – the usual – and in the six years here not one of our two indoor/outdoor cats have gotten a bird. If you neuter a male like you should, they really don’t give a rats ass about birds.
    I’m pretty sure the songbird populations are fine.

    Sorry to hear of these strange deaths.

  • Layne May 22, 2012 (1:44 pm)

    @dc68: while your experience is completely valid, it does go counter to nearly all advice given from animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and (of course) the pet owners above who have lost theirs. Consider yourself lucky to have not had any bad experiences.

  • bridge to somewhere May 22, 2012 (4:08 pm)

    @dc68: the Audubon Society suggests keeping cats indoors: http://web4.audubon.org/bird/at_home/safecats.html . . . but what do they know about birds, right?

  • Feenix June 2, 2012 (9:43 am)

    Listen people, this is a global phenomenon,just google half cats! Its been going on for years in waves and pathologists and hematologists have analyzed the bodies of some of these cats and have found the cuts left hemoglobin and collagen cooked! Meaning they were cut with something hot. The details in almost all the cases are similar and lack of blood is always the main feature. No person has ever been proven to be behind it anywhere and convicted. As for animals doing it, read all the reports and see if you still believe that!

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