A 26-year-old man who shot five cats with a crossbow in Eindhoven, killing one, had his day in court. On Monday, the prosecution demanded a nine-month prison sentence.
The man, who is originally from China but studied and works in Eindhoven, explained that he wanted to scare the cats after one scratched him.
Back in November 2025, he used a crossbow to shoot three cats from the same neighbourhood within one week. Two of the cats suffered perforated intestines, and one suffered injuries to its nose and throat.
In May of 2026, police arrested the man after a cat was found to have been killed with a crossbow. He admitted to shooting five cats in total, NU.nl reports.
A minor provocation
Prosecutors were quick to point out that the man’s excuse that he had been injured by a cat after it scratched him, was a very minor provocation for such a violent crime.
The prosecution also pointed out that the man was decisive in his actions, he adapted the crossbow he bought online so that it would be better suited to shooting cats, and CCTV footage shows him chasing a cat that desperately tries to escape between cars.
The man also made sure to only go out with the crossbow at night so that no one would see him.
Diminished responsibility
A psychologist has claimed that the man has diminished responsibility, and his likelihood of committing a crime again is low.
The man has also apologised for his actions and paid compensation to the owners, claiming he only wanted to scare the cats.
NU.nl reports that the man wants to return to China “as soon as possible” once he is released.
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