Man wanted after details emerge of family cats being assaulted

Police are searching for a mystery dog walker after two family cats were allegedly attacked in Melbourne last week, with one left permanently injured.

Police are working to track down a dog walker after the gruesome alleged attack of two family cats in Melbourne last week.

One cat, aged 15, has been left permanently injured after allegedly being beaten with a piece of wood on Wednesday afternoon in Mernda, northeast of the city.

The man police hope to speak with was captured on security footage walking his dog on Belloza Way at 4.50pm, however has yet to be located.

Investigators have been told he chased and kicked a black and white cat before allegedly setting on the elderly ginger cat with a piece of wood.

Police hope to speak with this man over the alleged assault of two family cats. Picture: Victoria Police

The ginger cat was severely injured and taken to a vet for treatment.

It has since returned home but has been left with an ongoing leg injury as a result of the alleged attack.

Senior Constable Teghan Page condemned the alleged attack and urged the man pictured in the CCTV to come forward.

“It is quite disgusting vision to watch and to think that someone is capable of doing something like this. It is one of the more horrible things I have seen as a police officer,” she told the Herald Sun.

“We just want to identify who the male is so he can assist us with our inquiries with what has occurred.

“We don’t want anything else like this to happen to other animals. If anyone knows anything or has CCTV or dashcam footage, please come forward.”

Police released a CCTV image of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries last week in an initial appeal, and on Tuesday released footage after being unable to identify him.

Police are hoping to speak with this man in connection to an alleged attack on an elderly cat. Picture: Eyewatch – Whittlesea Police Service Area

The man in the photo was shown wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses, black T-shirt, black shorts and a blue pair of sneakers with tall blue socks.

He restrained his sandy brown-coloured, medium-sized dog on a long black lead.

Victoria Police confirmed no arrests had been made and the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone able to identify the man in the photo was asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online.