Cat Heads To Trial For Terrorizing Neighbors (Cat Even Ambushed Avon Lady)

[matcom]

<snip>

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. --The case of a cat accused of viciously attacking several neighbors is going to trial. Ruth Cisero, owner of Lewis the cat, Tuesday withdrew her bid for special probation because she would have had to allow Lewis to be euthanized.

Cisero withdrew her application for accelerated rehabilitation and instead pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment and elected a trial by jury.

Residents of the neighborhood of Sunset Circle claimed they had been terrorized by Lewis.

The neighbors said Lewis' long claws, along with catlike stealth, have allowed the cat to attack at least a half dozen people and ambush the Avon lady as she was getting out of her car.

More than 500 "Save Lewis" T-shirts have been sold to raise funds for a defense fund for Cisero and a Westport lawyer has volunteered to be the cat's lawyer.

The special probation offer with conditions was made at the insistence of neighbor Maureen Bachtig, who was reportedly attacked by Lewis Feb. 20.

In a letter to prosecutors, Bachtig said she would only agree to probation for Cisero if the cat were put to death.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/05/03/conn_crazy_cat_case_heads_to_trial?mode=PF

[riona]

1. Attack Cat

We cat sat for one of those - it used to hide around corners, wait until one of us went by, bite our ankles and run. It would lurk under the bed until I came in to make it, and then savage my feet (from the looks of the box spring, he warmed up by shredding that.) Then he would go into the bathroom, jump in the shower, find the razor, cut his foot, run all over leaving bloody paw prints, unroll the toilet paper and then thin out the little rug with his claws. The best part was when we were relaxing watching TV or reading, he would come flying out of nowhere, zoom up on the couch, bite and run. No wonder its owner brought us a lavish gift when she returned!

[BikeWriter]

2. Only loose kitties kill neighbors.

[Deja Q]

4. I thought loose kitties only got impregnated...

:yoiks:

[BikeWriter]

6. That, too. Be careful talking about loose ####....

or the thread will be locked. :rofl:

[Deja Q]

7. I didn't read into it like THAT...

:rofl:

I'm talkin' cats here... "kitty" is self-explanatory, surely?

[BikeWriter]

8. Yes, unless one's mind is in the gutter. Mine is.

[Deja Q]

37. Well, so's mine... but as Bob Barker often states about the pet population

keep your pet spayed or neutered.

:D

[BikeWriter]

54. I know you're right, and you know Bob Barker wouldn't lie!

[bridgit]

3. fucking avon lady anyway...

:spray:

[Deja Q]

5. If that doesn't redefine "beastiality", what does?

:wow:

[BikeWriter]

23. Yeah, right, she probably deserved to be clawed and bitten.

:sarcasm:

[bridgit]

27. that'll learn her some...

:sarcasm:

[BikeWriter]

31. It's all her fault for coming into Lewis' neighborhood!

:sarcasm:

[bridgit]

35. mapquest could'a told her to file a timely flight plan well in advance...

x( :sarcasm:

[BikeWriter]

55. No doubt in my mind, Bridgit. She could have visited Jamaica!

:sarcasm:

[Coventina]

9. If she keeps the cat indoors, problem solved!

:shrug:

[matcom]

10. .

:applause:

:popcorn:

[BikeWriter]

12. Superb reasoning on your part, Coventina. Unfortunately...

there are millions of cat owners who do not do that.

[no name no slogan]

13. She does. However, she does use the door, and the cat escapes

She keeps the cat indoors, but unfortunately it's pretty quick and has sneaked out of the house on numerous occassions.

Just because the cat had the good taste to attack a door-to-door peddler doesn't mean it should be put to death.

[BikeWriter]

18. The woman has allowed her dangerous animal to repeatedly terrorize...

...the neighbors. If she cannot control him, which she has demonstrated she either cannot or will not do, that option should be taken from her.

[DBoon]

36. Nobody can control a cat

remember, dogs have owners, cats have staff

[liontamer]

39. that's crap

It's fun to indulge a cat's whims but if the cat is attacking people it can be kept indoors. The rest of us manage to keep our cats indoors. If it got out once every few years that would be one thing, but come on. The cat isn't that smart.

[DBoon]

46. Who said I own a cat?

I prefer the much more trainable canines as a household pet

[LisaL]

48. Then you obviously haven't a foggiest idea on wtf you are talking

about.
Cats, while not like dogs, can be trained.

[DBoon]

51. remind me never to get into an argument with cat owners again

I will go hide with my dogs and enjoy the evening.

[LisaL]

49. Well, it sure as hell does not mean it should be roaming free

either.

[Hugin]

11. Good kitty...

;)

[Midlodemocrat]

14. Bet there is a dearth of songbirds in that area.

:hide:

[matcom]

15. of course there is

why fuck around with songbirds when you can go after Avon ladies? :rofl:

[BikeWriter]

19. Since Avon ladys have been put on the endangered list...

I would think birds are in peril, too!

[Deja Q]

38. And I thought it was only because of the internet that they got endangered

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

56. Nope, it's because of those baddass cats!

:scared:

[PassingFair]

16. Sorry to be a pest about this, Matcom....

But can you post your SUPER ZAWQARI art again?

Pretty please....

[matcom]

17. ??

:shrug:

[PassingFair]

33. Don't you have a piece of art featuring

Mr. Zarqawi in a superman suit, with electric charges?

I thought I had gotten it from you in the past....

[hyphenate]

20. That neighbor is a bitch

I think. Fuck the neighbors. When I was in L.A., one of my kits got off my front porch and went upstairs to the bastard living there. He tried to kill her with a baseball bat. She was just about 9 months old and had had a miserable time as a kitten because she and her brother were orphaned at a week old and had to be handraised. As well, she contracted pneumonia when she was about seven weeks old.

I can't imagine anyone so cruel that they would be so terrified of a small cat to try to kill them with a bat.

The neighbor is not only a bitch, but a fucking asshole as well.

Lewis just needs some TLC, and perhaps an outdoor pen where he can't get too far beyond his own home borders. Mine are all indoor cats now, and I prefer it that way, because the outside world can be cold and cruel.

But I really like the idea of the Avon attack cat. Perhaps that part should remain as is. ;)

[BikeWriter]

21. "There is nothing wrong with your television set.

Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission."
I think I've entered the Twilight Zone! You're blaming the neighbors?

[hyphenate]

34. No--I was referring

to that neighbor who insisted that the cat be put to sleep. A cat is a cat is a cat, and what they do is instinctual. You don't put a cat down for doing something as normal to them as sleep.

THAT'S just being a fucking bitch.

As far as blaming anyone, I would simply say that Lewis needs to become an indoor cat--at least for a while, and perhaps be chaperoned on outside walks (which many cats WILL do--it's definitely not something unheard of) or provided with a safe haven where he can't get to other people, but can enjoy the outdoor life.

I tried to illustrate in my post that some people are just assholes when it comes to pets and animals. My neighbor and that neighbor belong in the same place in hell.

[BikeWriter]

59. The owner had been court ordered to confine her cat...

She failed to do so and more people were attacked. If you'd like to curse someone, curse her!

[hyphenate]

44. A little more info

More than 500 "Save Lewis" T-shirts have been sold to raise funds for a defense fund for Cisero; a Westport lawyer has volunteered to be the cat's lawyer.

During the brief hearing Tuesday in the Golden Hill Street courthouse, Reynolds, the judge, acknowledged she has received e-mails in support of Lewis.

"But this case is going to be tried in the court," she said.

Reynolds attracted the ire of cat lovers when she agreed to grant accelerated rehabilitation to Cisero on the condition that Lewis be killed.

The offer was made on the insistence of neighbor Maureen Bachtig, who was reportedly attacked by Lewis Feb. 20.

In a letter to prosecutors, Bachtig said she would only agree to probation for Cisero if the cat were put to death.

Bachtig was in court Tuesday, but left without comment.

Cisero has maintained that she would rather leave Fairfield than have her cat killed.

Daniel Tepfer, who covers state courts and law enforcement issues, can be reached at 330-6308.

As I said, the neighbor is a bitch. Vindictive bitch, too.

Almost forgot the link:
http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3778657

[BikeWriter]

60. If my neighbor's cat attacked me, I'd be a vindictive bitch, too!

I'd also kick some ass!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

63. Normally, you're cool, but you have deep-seated cat issues. nt

[BikeWriter]

64. The same thing applies to neighbor's kids, dogs, horses, cows...

or other animals.

[Haole Girl]

22. Cats don't become mean on their own

If people tormented the cat, they got what they deserved!

I mean, my God, if the cat was so notorious, why did people continually go near it?

(can you tell I am a cat lover, or what?)

[BikeWriter]

25. The phrase "ambush the Avon lady...

...as she was getting out of her car" is a simple one. The cat was going out of his way to attack.

[LostinVA]

40. Many of her neighbors said the cat is fine with them

One neighbor says he lets her pet him.... so, it seems like it's selective clawing...

[LisaL]

50. Maybe it reacts to perfume smell.

[LisaL]

42. Oh please. If I am walking by, and the darn cat attacks me, that

cat would get it. I don't care why and who made him mean.
Frankly, I am surprised none of the neighbors took justice in their own hands so far.

[BikeWriter]

62. I'm with you, Lizzy. Somebody would get a butt kicking.

[Jazz2006]

24. "Cat Heads" - for a minute there, that

conjured up a very bizarre picture in my mind.

:scared:

[LaurenG]

26. Me too, It just gave me the willies

I'm glad the entire cat went to court instead of only it's head. lol

[Jazz2006]

29. Yes, I was also relieved to see that!

:hi:

[zanne]

28. It's "play aggression".

I used to have a cat who'd hide until you passed by, then he'd jump at your legs. He didn't understand that, although it's perfectly all right to do that to other cats, it's not alright to do it to humans. That's what "Lewis" was doing. The vet had me redirect his play by playing with him every day with toys, not my legs. It worked. He was a wonderful kitty.

[madinmaryland]

30. Here's an update to this story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5110231&mesg_id=5110231

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site96/2006/0503/20060503_054330_20060501_061925_{F8F483A5-32F0-4CFC-ABBD-581B042331AA}.jpg

[elshiva]

43. That can't be him! Imagined a scrapy looking mess of a feline.

[BikeWriter]

32. She'd already violated a court order to confine him.

Meanwhile, Lewis' owner, Ruth Cisero, was in despair. Lewis, violating a court order, had escaped her home and attacked a female neighbor. Prosecutors offered Cisero an option: if she put Lewis to death, she'd get off with probation.

http://www.connpost.com/ci_3771543

[LisaL]

41. Well, that cat is cute. But he sounds like a menace to society.

[BikeWriter]

53. From what I hear Baby Face Nelson was cute, too, and...

a stone cold killer!

[hyphenate]

45. Another link

regarding the neighbor. What a bitch.

http://www.connpost.com/ci_3753144

[LisaL]

47. If that cat actually attacked her, then she has a right to be a bitch.

[BikeWriter]

66. Yes'm, it is called self defense!

[RoyGBiv]

52. This is crap ...

http://www.connpost.com/petnews/ci_3655062

This strikes me very much like a case of a few "nose-in-the-air" people getting themselves all bent out of shape and trying to enact their self-endowed godlike powers on others they don't like. IOW, I'd bet this is a neighborhood conflict that has the cat caught in the middle of it.

The only time I've ever seen, or even heard of, a cat actually attacking a human (that is, not playing) is when that human has inflicted some abuse on the cat or when the cat was frightened by something and had gone into total instictual mode. One of my departed cats, for example, would go batshit on one of my cousins whenever he got near him. Of course, said cousin had once kidnapped the cat one afternoon, tied it up by its neck, and peed on it. Naturally, I never tried to correct the behavior; it was survival instinct.

At least two of the owner's other (next-door) neighbors didn't have any idea Lewis was a problem. That suggests very strongly there is far more to this than a cat jumping on a woman's leg and scratching her.

Yeah, Lewis should be an indoor kitty, and the people getting all worked up about the cat need to find something more important to do.

[Zookeeper]

57. Actually, I apartment sat for a couple of friends...

that had two completely psychotic indoor cats. I don't think the cats were abused by my friends, but were rescued from abuse.

It was impossible to pet either cat. They would hop on the bed and attack me if I moved. They would sit on top of the refrigerator and jump on me. I ended up with a scratch that required me to go to the doctor for antibiotics because it became infected and the infection was moving up my arm.

I do like cats, but these critters were truly terrifying.

[BikeWriter]

72. Cats can be scary, yes. Bottom line...

No one should inflict their animals on others, whether it be dogs, cats, cows, horses, or any other.

[RoyGBiv]

74. Okay, I'll modify ...

I've never known or heard of a cat who would attack humans unless that cat had been the victim of abuse by someone.

I'm suspicious of the meaning of "attack" being used in this story, particularly since some neighbors never had a clue Lewis was a problem. (I will add that the "story" in the OP is very thin on details.) Cats "attack" you when they're playing or defending their turf or any number of other things, but it is sort of a hit and run deal and not something sustained or with the intent to kill or even really to do physical harm. (And when animals truly "attack" killing is their intent.) My cat "attacks" me constantly. He's playing when he does it, and sometimes he's too rough and injures me because I refuse to remove his claws. I clip them, of course, but they don't remain at that dull stage after clipping for long. When we do battle, as play, I often lose.

A cat that is truly attacking something is a monster to behold, and I very much doubt the "victims" in this case would have walked away with something like a mere scratch to the leg.

I also must admit I am highly suspicious of the victims' claims because I've known people to make identical claims about cats who turned out to be nothing more than obsessive cat-haters. When I was a kid, for instance, this crabby old guy was always calling the police on the elderly lady who lived next door to me because of her cats, which he said "ruined" his garden, terrorized his dog (a German Shepard, btw), and, yes, attacked him. Funny how he was the only one who seemed to have this problem with her cats. Hell, maybe he was telling the truth. Cats are smart enough to know when people hate them, and they have enough dignity to return the favor.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

61. I actually had an attack cat.

Well, I still have her but she likes people now. Essentially, she hated everyone but me. They were all subject to random attack. Oddly enough, I could spin her around, throw her up in the car, perch her on my shoulder, and she'd purr through the whole thing.

Anyway, she gets lost in a blizzard for two weeks, nearly starves, comes home, and she loves people. She actually craves people. It's weird. My sister referred to it as, "well, you know how sometimes people almost die and they find Jesus? Well, the cat almost died and she found people." I'm still her favorite and I can do anything to her, but she'll sit with other people and allow them to pet her. She's still a bitch to other animals though.

[Zookeeper]

67. That's interesting...

The Zookids and I made a few trips to shelters recently looking for a new "used" cat and I noticed that the cats who had been strays were generally the most affectionate. Like they knew a good thing when they saw us.

We ended up with a big male cat named "Basil" from a rescue group. I don't know exactly what his background is, but he pretty much demands love. Tonight, he wrapped his arms around my arm and rested his head on me while we sat on the sofa. He's a hoot! He even plays with our Rat Terrier.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

70. We have four cats.

Midnight (former attacker) is the true alley cat. We literally got her from the alleyway next to our apartment when she was 7 weeks old. Her littermates and mother were murdered a week later.
Then, we got Cuddles from a legitimate Ragdoll breeder. He's nice, but stupid.
Ginsberg was given to me by a friend. He is super-affectionate, but (ssh, don't tell BikeWriter) into hunting. His mother was a feral cat that "adopted" my friend and turned out to be pregnant.
Peaches is our other rescue cat. Allegedly, she's a purebred Ragdoll, but she's too small to be one. My mom went to check out a litter of Ragdoll kittens and the "breeder" told her that she didn't want the mother was useless and free. She's a sweet pretty cat, but she was severely malnourished. She only weighted 5lbs, which the "breeder" tried to chalk up to her running around taking care of kittens. Now Peaches weighs 9lbs and she's still thin as hell. She's very sweet, but a little skittish. She was scared of everything except other cats when we got her last fall though.

[BikeWriter]

71. Ginsberg is "into hunting"? Does this mean...

you allow it to kill native species?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

73. I've never seen him kill a bird.

Rodents are another story.

[BikeWriter]

76. Are you aware destructive alien rodent species...

sometimes fill the niche left by native species decimated by feral and roaming cats?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

77. Gerbils taking over NJ?

No, I'm not aware of it, nor am I aware of any destructive alien rodent species in NJ.

[BikeWriter]

78. Have you ever heard of the Key Largo cotton mouse?

At the tony Ocean Reef Resort in Key Largo, hundreds of feral cats are fed by residents at two dozen designated feeding stations -- yet the cats are helping kill off the endangered Key Largo cotton mouse. Farther down the island chain, the federal government has forced builders to stop projects in the path of the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit. But the feds are virtually powerless when it comes to protecting the rabbits from residents' free-ranging house cats, dogs and those ubiquitous suburban freeloaders, raccoons, which are among the rabbits' other threats, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?729

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

79. I live in NJ.

I really don't think I need to worry about my cat decimating the local population of Key Largo mice. There also aren't really threats posed by non-native species aside from the random Quaker Parakeets making a nest in a telephone pole or some fish species.

[BikeWriter]

81. Perhaps you've heard of piping plovers and least terns then?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

82. I don't live down the shore.

Edited to say: He's never bought home a bird anyway.

[BikeWriter]

83. Cat's instincts cause them to kill, regardless of hunger...

They don't necessarily fetch home anything or everything they kill.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

84. Honestly, I don't care that my cat hunts.

We had a major rodent problem when we moved into the house and he fixed it. Two of the cats like going outside, one hunts and the other doesn't. They will scream and rip through screens, if not allowed out. I don't even have neighbors where I live currently so I doubt one cat could have a major effect on the ecosystem no matter how much he tried.

The other two cats are Ragdolls and pretty much have the cat bred out of them. They don't go outside, nor do they desire to.

Mice, voles, chipmunks, and squirrels are not endangered species. They don't go after birds (we have two feeders, so I know). Considering that if they're happier being allowed out then what's the harm?

[BikeWriter]

85. One cat could have a major effect on the ecosystem...

...if he were to kill one Cerulean Warbler. In 2000 there were only 157 pairs left alive in all of New Jersey.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

86. Like I said, we have birdfeeders. He ignores the birds.

We've had pet birds and both could be loose in the room together. They don't care about birds.

[BikeWriter]

87. Not those around the house, huh? What about nests?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

88. I think I know his behavior better than you.

But if you need to believe you know it better than I, then fine. I'm off to go let a mass murderer outside.

[BikeWriter]

89. Okay, you can say all day long he wouldn't kill endangered species...

but you don't know that.

[necso]

58. "Give him to Collingwood."

Attributed to Admiral Lord Nelson when dealing with sailors (as in: sailors being courtmartialled or otherwise disciplined) who were difficult "disciplinary" problems. Admiral Baron Collingwood was loved by his sailors for the care that he took of them, and he was renowned throughout the fleet for his ability to handle sailors that other officers could not. (As memory serves -- and only as... and only as well as.)

And this is a recognition of the not-uncommon circumstance that such "disciplinary" problems among the rank-and-file are the result of inferior (if not exactly bad) leadership.

[HEyHEY]

65. Boot

Bring it on ya fucking cat... one thing I won't tolerate is an aggresive feline. I'll stare down a mean dog and make friends... but when a cat gives me attitude, I show it I don't play that shit.

[BikeWriter]

69. Freak'n A! Now go kick Siegfried and Roy's cat's ass!

[RoyGBiv]

75. Oooo...

Big man.

[HEyHEY]

90. Hey, it's all nature

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

68. I side with the cat, but I also connect with animals strangely.

I don't know. I guess, I'm more at ease or something. I've only had an issue with one dog when I was about 10. Hell, I've even shocked my friends when I'm better with their pets than they are...such as being able to pick up their cat when they can't or put my hand into their cockatoo's cage. I just feel that with almost every domestic animal if you act calm, but dominant, it will at least leave you alone. It has worked for me on multiple occaisions with more dangerous animals than a cat.

Beyond that, I feel there's probably more to the story than it being told with the Avon Lady.

[Evoman]

80. Can this cat be trained to attack door-to-door religious people

I'm just saying....cuz I could adopt it.