Man Accused of Drowning His Neighbor’s Cat in Garage

Las Vegas, Nevada – A man is accused of drowning his neighbor’s cat in a tub full of water in the garage of his Las Vegas townhouse. According to reports, police identified Joshua Booth as the man who drowned a cat named Rita on April 12.

As reported by 8 News Now, Booth used a garden hose to fill a tub in his garage – the cat was drowned and then thrown onto the street. Another cat, wet and terrified but still alive, was also found in Booth’s garage when police exercised a search warrant at his residence near Pecos Road and Harmon Avenue.

Rita’s owner had notified the authorities that she was unable to find her cats, and that her neighbor had threatened to kill them. Booth denies wrong-doing, claiming that he killed the cat in “self-defense,” and a bizarre claim that Rita had “spontaneously drowned.” Officers noted scratches on Booth’s arms, stating that they may have been caused by the cat fighting for her life.

Booth is due in court on May 14; he is charged with willfully/maliciously torturing, maiming, or mutilating an animal for companionship or pleasure, causing death, and willfully or maliciously torturing, maiming, or mutilating an animal kept for companionship or pleasure.