Lost cat returned after news report

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Great news for one Southwest Austin woman, after a tragic story.

Neighbors in the Scenic Brook neighborhood found mutilated cats in their front yards, and one woman said as a result of KXAN's report, her cat was found.

"Because of your newscast last night he was in my garage when I got up this morning," said Lillie Hodges. "I think someone saw your news report and turned him loose."

Missing cat posters adorn many of the poles in the Scenic Brook neighborhood. After several cats in the neighborhood were found mutilated many more missing cats were reported.

Authorities do not have any leads as to whom or what is abusing the animal corpses and they recommend keeping cats indoors.

A report of the mutilated cats was circulated by e-mail over the weekend to members of the Scenic Brook Neighborhood Association. Neighborhood Association President, Desiree Whitely, sent the e-mail after being notified by a concerned neighbor who found two of the mutilated cats in her backyard.

The woman said one cat had been cut in half and the other was just the cat's head. The neighbor said the cats did not show any signs of an animal attack. Another neighbor said he found a different cat that had been split in half.

Ben McKenzie also lives in the Scenic Brook area. His cat has also been missing and he fears his cat was a victim.

"Seymore has been missing for quite some time now and we are hoping that he is not one of the cats that was found mutilated," said McKenzie. "We would like to know if it was him even though it will be very hard, at least we will know."

Several other cats are still missing and authorities recommend keeping cats inside.