Longmont, Colorado – A Colorado couple is mourning the loss of their beloved cat, Basil, who died in a horrific cruelty incident that is under investigation by the local police. As reported by ABC 7 News, Holly Mathews and her boyfriend, Travis, fitted their cats with GPS tracking collars because the felines enjoyed in-and-out privileges.
The cats were adopted in Norway and they enjoyed hiking, biking, and other outdoor adventures.
Holly tells the news agency:
“They kind of defied what cats do. They like hiking and biking and have this full sense of this fullness of life. Particularly with Basil,They are indoor/outdoor cats. I was never willing to take that away from them after we moved here.”
On the evening of August 27, the couple got an alert that Basil was out of her normal area. They could see that she appeared to be moving as if in a car, so they got in their own vehicle and followed.
The trail ended at a riverbed where they discovered Basil in a trash bag – her body was still warm. A necropsy revealed that Basil had been shot in the head and then discarded at the river. Her owners think they missed her killer by minutes.
Mathews said:
“So much anger and so much rage that someone did this to our family. [Basil] was my everything,”
Anyone with information is asked to reach out to Longmont PD at 303-651-8555 and reference report number #23-7880.
Perhaps someone thought the GPS tracking devices were cameras that saw something they shouldn’t have. But I hope someone comes forward with info that can help catch whoever did this. Absolutely horrible.
THIS is one of many, many reasons I agree with many experts in keeping cats INDOORS ONLY, and am a tireless advocate for keeping them indoors. Loving, caring parents wouldn’t let their toddler kids roam unattended. While cats are not toddlers, they ARE in our care and under our guardianship and as such, it is our responsibility to protect them.
PLEASE, people, wake up. It only takes one time.
Don’t let that time come. There are no good reasons why not. Believe me, I’ve heard them all.
I agree!!! A cat should not roam outside!! They are so vulnerable!!! Dogs, cars and as in this case evil humans!! I do not let our cat out of the house!! He’s quite happy inside playing with his brother a dog!!
I agree with you and furthermore, cats outside are devastating to wildlife. It’s extensively documented. And I have often heard people say in serious dismay — or anger — that killing an outdoor cat that is wiping out the wild animals in their neighborhood would be a lesser evil. I am an extreme animal-loving advocate, and I cannot disagree with that assessment. Cat owners need to keep their cats inside, for the reasons you said and for the wildlife. Obviously, this would not be a compassionate person’s choice. Report the cat, try to trap the cat and find out through a chip who the owners are, and have local SPCA talk to them, whatever. My point is that there are a lot of people who talk about doing what was done to this cat and inevitably someone does. And even if no one does, then we have the issue of the Wildlife. We’ve lost billions of birds to perfectly well-fed cats who didn’t need to eat, they just felt like killing because that’s fun for them and their people put them outside. That is a fact. Lastly, putting your cats outdoors is actually illegal in many communities. The owners bear prime responsibility here. Tough to say and hear, but true.
Cats are predators, they hunt but they are not the only ones. Corvids and squirrels are baby bird and egg takers. Not to mentions raptors, You can’t blame the cat population for all burd deaths, that’s ridiculous..
Amen!!!!! Keep them in Keep them SAFE!!! THIS WORLD HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN BY SATAN. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE PLEASE!!!
I so agree with jmuhj about NEVER EVER ALLOWING YOUR CAT TO GO OUTSIDE. it’s such plain carelessness and stupidity to let her out not wanting to take that pleasure away from her.
But you took her life away. There are too many vile humans out there to ever think your cat will see safe. What happened to the other kitty. Hopefully you have learned your lesson and KEEP HIM OR HER INDOORS TO SAVE HIS LIFE. ITS JUST HEARTBREAKING TO READ. I just hate people. Hope they catch this murderer and teach him a lesson. People who kill innocent animals are evil and will become serial killers. Their punishment should be so severe that the next lowlife will think twice about it before murdering the innocents among us. PLEASE, PEOPLE KEEP YOUR ANIMALS INDOORS AT ALL TIMES UNLESS YOU DONT VALUE THEIR LIVES.
Don’t understand why people anywhere let their cats roam knowing the possible dangers. Pathetic.
These two idiots ought to be jailed for utter stupidity in thinking a tracking collar would protect their cat from harm. This what you get when you get when you let your Cabo unsupervised;out of sight when their are assholes around like the one that killed this cat;not to mention the numerous other hazards outside cats face. Cannot stress enough KEEP YOUR FUCKING CATS inside if you treasure then. Bet these two nitwits wish they had been more protective and less naive . Lesson learned I hope for their other cat.
It’s so sad that people are cruel to animals. I hope they find the people who did this!
There was no reason for this evil person or persons to do this to this beautiful cat!! Poor baby!! There’s monsters out there who seem to enjoy doing this type of thing!! May death come to them in the same fashion!
It is not appropriate to reprove people who are heartbroken. Instead they are to be comforted and consoled.
In memory of the beloved Basil, this prayer is offered to his bereaved guardians:
And St. Isaac of Nineveh pleaded for a “charitable heart” for all humans:
What is a charitable heart? It is a heart which is burning with charity for the whole of creation, for men, for the birds, for the beasts, for the demons—for all creatures. He who has such a heart cannot see or call to mind a creature without his eyes becoming filled with tears by reason of the immense compassion which seizes his heart; a heart which is softened and can no longer bear to see or learn from others of any suffering, even the smallest pain, being inflicted upon a creature. This is why such a man never ceases to pray also for the animals, for the enemies of Truth, and for those who do him evil, that they may be preserved and purified. He will pray even for the reptiles, moved by the infinite pity which reigns in the hearts of those who are becoming united to God. … Lord, give me and all the world a heart such as this. Amen.
This is why you do NOT let your pets just roam all over!!!! So awful and sad!! If you want them to experience the outdoors then do so safely with harness training and/or a safe catio enclosure. Humans are the most dangerous predators on this earth and you cannot just assume your cat will be safe. I hear it so many times…but they always come home…until they don’t. There are also wildlife predators as well that can hurt your pet. Yes, the person who killed this poor cat needs to be punished by all means! This was a senseless and cruel death. The responsibility to keep this beloved cat safe however, was the owners.
these people gave their cats a life they loved. people who are authorities and critics should keep their opinions to themselves. bottom line this was done by a spineless scumbag who shouldn’t be breathing. so instead of bashing these poor people maybe bash the criminals for a change. RIP Basil!
Regardless if you keep your cat in or not there are sadistic lowlifes out there who enjoy getting their sick kicks by torturing animals and then killing them. They could break into your house to do this evilness. Animals like humans should be allowed the freedom to roam just like us. It’s the sickos that are responsible not the poor cat and so the onus should be on catching them. this is heartbreaking for the family and the poor defenceless cat
If you have adventurous cats that you have raised since kittens to enjoy going out on walks with you, riding in a backpack while you are biking, etc. I have no problem with that provided the cats are wearing harnesses and are leashed and the backpacks are secure. But when you allow your cats to roam freely without supervision, you are asking for trouble. It’s just a matter of time before something happens to them. Besides evil people out there, there are free roaming neighborhood dogs that can maul your cats, or coyotes or big cats that will eat them. I believe cats are happier if they can go outside. However I have 2 large catios that were built and are attached to my home for that exact purpose. Catios are protective, don’t allow the cats to go beyond the enclosures and yet still allows the cats to feel wild. Catios allow cats to lead a happy life and have a space of their own without humans. Free access to roam loose outside is just dangerous. As one of the other commentators said “would you allow your human toddlers outside” on their own to go wherever and whenever they want? Of course you wouldn’t. Cats and kids deserve to be protected. If your cats die while outside roaming loose because you allowed them to, you are responsible for their deaths. Don’t blame the coyote that ate them, or the coons that attacked and killed them or the evil people that used your cat for target practice like the monster in this case. Please google “CATIOS” and CAT FENCING” online.
This sickens me. No, these folks shouldn’t have allowed Basil & their other “adventure kitty” to roam loose, but the monster who murdered this sweet, wonderful, unique kitty needs SERIOUS prison time. Because of the GPS, they know which scumbag neighbor murdered this poor girl. Neighbor needs to rot in hell, but prison first please. Yes, catios are the way to go, or heck–a harness & leash. All 5 of my cats are indoors only, but 2 of them want out. They only get to go out on a harness & leash.
These are real SICKOS out there — FIND them and throw them in Prison — throw away the key — they’re dangerous to society and NEVER to be allowed freedom
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