Cat Shot in Face with Arrow Survives

[Update to story: a 16 year-old male was charged with shooting the cat in the face with a bow and arrow.]

WASHINGTON -- Washington City Police are investigating a case of suspected animal cruelty after a cat was found impaled in the face with an arrow.

"There are no suspects at this time," police spokesperson Ed Kantor said. "We don't know if it was intentionally done or recklessly done to the animal."

 The cat was rescued Wednesday morning along a walking trail in Nisson Park.

"We don't know if that's where the injury occurred," Kantor said. "The cat was still able to walk."

  

Volunteers with an animal rescue group and officers with the city's animal control office captured the young cat and quickly took it to a local veterinarian for treatment.

"You could tell the cat was in pain," said Dr. Jace King with the Washington County Veterinary Clinic. "It couldn't move because of where the arrow was at."

At first, King thought they would need to euthanize the animal. But after getting X-ray images of the cat's head and torso the clinic decided to remove the arrow.

"It came through the nostril, down through the roof of the mouth, through the back of the tongue and then where it came through the neck and exited out through the shoulder," Dr. King said of the arrow's path.

Employees at the clinic named the cat "Quiver" and said she quickly started improving once the arrow was removed. However, she needed additional surgery Thursday to help clear up infection and patch the hole on the roof of her mouth.

"It was obviously intentional," said Shanna Faapuna, an employee at the veterinary clinic who treated Quiver. "I don't understand why somebody would torture an innocent animal like that and just leave her to die."

The clinic hopes that Quiver can be put up for adoption once she recovers. To contribute funds to help pay for Quiver's veterinary care, call the Washington Family Veterinary Clinic at 435-627-1300.

"She had nine lives," King said. "I think she'll make a full recovery."

Police encourage anyone with information about the case to call the animal control department for Washington City at 435-673-7194.

(KUTV - Feb 8, 2014)