the attack on cats is rampant. I stumbled across some horror in another forum this morning. I did not, thank goodness, view all the pictures, two were enough before I realized what I was seeing.

Two people (at least) went out in their car with a camera, and some other supplies which I will not label to spare you, targeting cats in yards and committed unspeakable atrocities while photographing. It's pretty clear they did it right in the cats' yards or neighborhoods. Probably left them there to die afterward.

There were 18 pictures posted by the time a moderator showed up. Whether they posted the same two pictures, or did this to 18 cats, I can't know as I did not look after the first. I urged the mod to report the ISP to authorities rather than deleting the account. I can only hope s/he did.

This is happening more and more for a few reasons. The internet gives these sick people an audience. It also gives other sick people ideas and they copy.

People growing up today are desensitized to violence. They regularly blow people and animals up in video games. War is in their living rooms nightly in the news. Everything is as large as life, or larger. Death and violence is an every day occurrence.

Cats are not viewed as anything but targets. Cats are more fun to abuse because they have a reputation for independence and aloofness. So these excrescences feel powerful when they torture maim and kill.

I cannot imagine letting my cats out and risking something like this happening to them. All it takes is once. Keep your cats indoors.

As for that columnist, I can't even comprehend how something like that was allowed to be printed in a family newspaper. I hope that paper loses all it's readers and goes out of business.