The whole neighborhood in Pacific Beach, CA knows Lygher, the friendly family cat. People come up to him just to say “hi,” but his family was shocked to learn his life is in danger.
Lygher has been an indoor/outdoor cat his entire life, and he roams the area around his home knowing all his neighbors recognize his face. His owners, Hugo Feu and Carolyn Bormann, told their local news agency that people know the wandering tabby by name. Feu said,
“Everyone loves him.”
But after a threatening note was found on the cat’s collar, Feu is forced to re-evaluate that friendly neighborhood sentiment. Last Tuesday night, Lygher came home like usual, but a scrap of paper was tucked around his neck. The note read,
“This kitty is going away with his new P.B. friends on the 1st of Sept.”
Lygher came home again the next night, but this time, his collar had been ripped off. That’s when the cat owners were forced to take the threat seriously. They were afraid for Lygher’s safety and shocked that someone would want to harm an animal that, as far as they know, has caused no problems in the community.
They reported the incident to Animal Control, but because no crime was actually committed, nothing could be done. Determined to protect their cat, Feu and Bormann started keeping Lygher inside. But after years of enjoying life outdoors, staying inside made Lygher miserable. The “deadline” written on the note has since passed, but Feu and Bormann aren’t convinced that Lygher is safe.
Not knowing what else to do, they posted flyers around the neighborhood warning other pet owners about the threat. They hope community support will stop the person from hurting their beloved cat and any of the other neighborhood pets. They plan to keep Lygher inside as much as possible, but they’ll always be on the lookout for someone wanting to do him harm. Of course, there are alternative ways that cats can enjoy the fresh air in safety.
We want to know: what would you do in this situation?
Featured Image Source: Screenshot via YouTube/ABC10
