The Brief
- A Hayward man is accused of stealing his neighbor’s cat, Silo, and abandoning it in a remote Castro Valley area.
- Authorities say GPS data, surveillance footage and a confession link him to the incident. The defendant later admitted he stole the cat because the feline kept eating his chickens and rabbits.
- The cat was found dead about two weeks later; the cause of death has not been determined.
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. – A Hayward man is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities say he stole his neighbor’s cat and released it in a remote area because it had been eating his rabbits and chickens. The cat was later found dead.
Charges filed
What we know:
Antonio Preciado, 41, has been charged with animal cruelty and petty theft in connection with the case, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Cat reported missing
The backstory:
The victim reported to deputies on Jan. 31 that his cat, Silo, had been missing since Jan. 17, after the animal wandered onto Preciado’s property. The two men are neighbors.…