By Tim Binnall
An understandably concerned animal shelter in Texas is on the lookout for a mysterious cat that inexplicably sports red fur. The peculiar case reportedly came to light last Thursday when League City Animal Care alerted residents to the strange situation on social media. "We are aware of the cat that has been seen around the community with red dye or paint on her fur," they wrote, "and we want everyone to know this baby is not forgotten." To that end, the post explained that they are hoping to capture the oddly colored feline with humane traps, but so far the animal has eluded them.
As for how the cat wound up with red fur, the animal shelter offered no theories. That said, should they capture the crimson critter, an examination of the feline ought to reveal what substance was used to color its coat and, in turn, may provide a clue toward solving the mystery. After the animal shelter posted photos of the red cat on social media, speculation unsurprisingly ensued, with some suggesting a cruel 'prankster' was to blame and others wondering if the creature could be connected to the world of underground dog fighting. However, one cannot entirely rule out the possibility that the feline found itself painted red through a misadventure of its own as it prowled around the community.
Perhaps fearful that the red cat could become a Jimothy-esque local sensation that might put it in danger, the animal shelter requested that residents not approach the feline nor leave food out for it to eat. "While we know it comes from a place of kindness," they wrote, the group stressed that such efforts "can make it more difficult for our trapping efforts to be successful." Instead, the animal shelter simply called upon residents to promptly report any sightings of the feline to them as they try to narrow down where in the city it is wandering.