Altoona Police are investigating the shooting of seven cats in the city.  All of the cats were found near the 2800 block of 7th and 8th avenues in Altoona. Three died, four have been injured and require surgery.

One was found with a bullet lodged in his throat. He’s already undergone an operation  to have the bullet and all of the fragmented pieces of his jaw removed.  

“The cats have been shot by a 22 caliber round, some of which these days, you can get a suppressor for a 22 long rifle, and it wouldn’t be, it’s not out of the  ordinary, that a neighbor wouldn’t hear the gun, so this is something someone could do in their backyard,” said Altoona Police Sergeant Matt Plummer.

The Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, which has caring for the cats, alerted city police to the shootings, and Sergeant Plummer says they’re taking the case very seriously.

“One thing is obviously the cruelty to animals, but on the other hand a 22 round can travel up to a mile, so if somebody takes a bad shot with a bad  background, this round could travel up to a mile and strike a bystander or go into somebody’s home,” he said.

Sergeant Plummer wants to remind residents that it’s illegal to fire a gun in the city of Altoona.

Plummer said the shooter could be using a suppressor on the weapon, so if residents hear anything that sounds like a firecracker going off, he wants them to call 911 and police will investigate.

He said not all of the cats that were shot were feral–they could possibly be someone’s pet.    
The Central Pa Humane Society is asking for donations to help care for the injured animals.