- *WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT*
A family cat in a quaint Northamptonshire village has been left traumatised after allegedly being targeted in a firework attack by a local parish councillor.
The shocking incident, captured on video, shows the cat being blasted after stepping into a birdhouse rigged with explosives.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by Councillor James Garnor, and is one of at least two such occurrences that took place in the village of Whittlebury.
It has been reported that Mr Garnor used remote-controlled devices to detonate explosives aimed at the animals.
Police were alerted in October 2023 when a local resident filed a complaint about the April 2023 attack.
While Garnor attended a voluntary interview and was shown footage of the April 9 incident, the authorities ultimately decided there was insufficient evidence to press criminal charges. Instead, he was addressed under anti-social behaviour legislation.
Nikki the owner of the attacked cat, Suki, has spoken about the disturbing effect the attack has had on the animal which suffered visible injuries such as singed whiskers.
She told LBC: ‘She used to be a lovely cat. She would come and sit for hours, cuddling and playing and bobbing her head all over you. If you wanted a cuddle, she was there – she was like a scarf around your neck.
‘Now she very rarely comes near you, and if she does, she’s got her claws out – she hisses, she growls.
A family cat in a quaint Northamptonshire village has been left traumatised after allegedly being targeted in a firework attack by a local parish councillor
The shocking incident, captured on video, shows the cat being blasted after stepping into a birdhouse rigged with explosives
‘She’s not the loving cat she used to be – and I don’t blame her… the change in her happened pretty much overnight.’
Nikki was sent a video showing the attack, which shows Suki approaching the birdhouse and being stunned by a flash of light, before sprinting away as fast as possible.
The motivation for the explosions remains unclear, but some in the village believe Garnor was acting on a neighbour’s request to deter cats from stealing food meant for birds.
Mr Garnor has been approached for comment.
Opinions within the village are divided. Some locals, noting the disruption caused by cats in the area, argue Mr Garnor shouldn’t be overly penalised, especially since no serious harm was done to the animals.
Nikki the owner of the attacked cat, Suki, has spoken about the disturbing effect the attack has had on the animal who suffered visible injuries such as singed whiskers
The attack is believed to have been carried out by Councillor James Garnor, and is one of at least two such occurrences that took place in the village of Whittlebury
One woman even claimed the matter had been ‘blown out of proportion.’
Yet others, including local resident Amelia, insist Garnor’s actions were utterly irresponsible, particularly given his position as a local councillor.
‘He’s supposed to set an example,’ she said, ‘it’s clear from the footage that this was no accident. He was sitting there waiting with the detonator, and the cat was deliberately lured to the birdhouse.’
Whittlebury parish council and the Northamptonshire police have been approached for comment.
