A West Island family is shocked after their cat was apparently injured and left on their doorstep, with an anonymous note around its neck stating the cat would not return after any future visits to that neighbour’s backyard.

The family spoke to CTV Montreal on the condition of anonymity and reported that their badly-injured pet cat was left on their doorstep in Pierrefonds-Roxoboro with serious scratches, cuts and swelling.

The cat had been beaten about the head and a note was affixed to a string tied around its neck warning against any further incursions.

The carefully-written note expressed impatience with many cats coming into their backyard.

Nancy Price lives in the neighbourhood and has two cats.

Two years ago, one of the cats didn’t return for the night. When it reappeared, there was a similar note tied to its neck.

Her cat wasn’t injured and she didn’t call police at the time, but kept the note. When she heard about the most recent incident, she dug up the note to compare handwriting. It matched.

Price says she doesn’t know who in her neighbourhood is issuing the threats, but she is hoping police will be able to catch them.

“This person has got to understand. You don’t do this. Hurting an animal is not acceptable in today’s society, in any society at any time. You don’t hurt an animal.”

The family that owns the cat hurt in the most recent incident are pleading with the alleged abuser to employ non-violent means of keeping visiting cats out of their yard, such as dousing it with a water hose.

They note that harming animals is a crime and are asking other pet owners who have had similar experiences to relay their accounts to police and animal authorities.

The police are investigating and the SPCA says the person who made these threats could face several charges.

“If the individual who is responsible for the note or conduct had a concern about cats outdoors certainly he or she could have gone to their municipality or gone to their neighbours,” said Alanna Devine.

“There is no excuse for this type of deplorable conduct.”