When it comes to cat stories, the saga of Lewis the cat is quite unusual. You’ve probably heard stories of people getting into trouble with the law because of a bad temper, but it’s very rare for a cat to get in trouble with the law because of his temper.
Lewis was an outdoor cat living in Fairfield, Connecticut. He had a habit of assaulting people in the neighborhood, appearing out of nowhere and attacking from behind. This happened so often that one neighbor called the city’s Animal Control Officer to complain. Lewis was slapped with a restraining order that allowed him very limited outdoor privileges if he took Prozac twice a day.
Lewis stayed on his meds for a couple of months, then he managed to escape the house and vowed revenge on the neighborhood. After this episode, Lewis’ owner was arrested for not honoring the restraining order and reckless endangerment. The owner was placed on probation, and to make matters worse, one of Lewis’ victims filed a $5000 lawsuit against her.
The press then got wind of the story, turning Lewis, his owner and their neighbors into celebrities. The owner hoped the media attention would help the case for ending her probation. In 2006, Lewis’ owner was granted accelerated probation, with one stipulation, Lewis would never be allowed outside again.
Last reports indicate Lewis was grudgingly adjusting to life as an indoor cat.
Do you have an unusual cat story to share? If so, we’d love to feature the story. Please email [email protected] for details.
Source: 100 Cats Who Changed Civilization by Sam Stall
Written by Karen
