Omaha man accused of beating his cat faces felony animal cruelty charge

NEBRASKA -- An Omaha man accused of severely beating his cat is facing a felony charge of animal cruelty.
 
Nathaniel Gilreath, 22, was arrested at his apartment at 6518 Boyd St. about 6:30 a.m. Friday by members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force.

Nebraska Humane Society investigators developed the case against Gilreath to obtain a felony warrant for his arrest, said Mark Langan, vice president of field operations for the humane society.

Feb. 12, the humane society seized the cat, Zorro, after receiving information that the feline had been beaten by Gilreath. A veterinarian determined that the cat had a broken jaw, chipped teeth and swelling on the face from blunt-force trauma that occurred several weeks earlier.

Langan said Gilreath “repeatedly beat the cat with his fists after he claimed it scratched him."

The 2-year-old cat was thin and dehydrated, most likely because the injuries made eating and drinking difficult, the humane society said.

 

Zorro is not up for adoption yet, Langan said, but the cat should be available soon.

The humane society said its investigation also showed that Gilreath beat another cat that he owned. That cat died of its injuries about a month ago, the humane society said.

The animal cruelty charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

(Omaha World-Herald - Mar 6, 2015)