Cat Shot With Arrow In St. Pete: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Investigators are seeking public assistance after a cat was shot with an arrow near 72nd Avenue N. and 33rd Street N. in unincorporated St. Petersburg, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Members of the organization Cat Trap Fever trapped the cat, a 3-year-old gray domestic shorthair, which had an arrow protruding from its back, on Jan. 31.

The organization brought the cat to a local veterinarian, where it had surgery to remove the arrow, the sheriff’s office said. Though that initial surgery was successful, the cat had to undergo an additional surgery and is in serious condition.

The cat — dubbed Poor Arrow Kitty or PAKman — has retained “the sparkle” during his recovery and a fixed feeding tube was surgically placed inside him Tuesday, Cat Trap Fever wrote in a Facebook post.

“We need all the good vibes, all the prayers and love we can get for him,” the organization said. “We are here for PAKman's best outcome and if that includes more folks will be on the lookout for cruelty, he has done so much more than surviving, thus far.”

The organization is raising funds for his care. Donations to Cat Trap Fever can be made here.

Detectives investigating this as an animal cruelty case spoke with residents in the neighborhood where the cat was found who told them the animal is a neighborhood cat and “super friendly.”

The arrow used in the shooting is a black Wicked Ridge arrow with yellow fletching and an orange nock, the sheriff’s office said.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective McKee at 727-582-5827 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County by calling **TIPS or crimestoppersofpinellas.org.