So, a 14 year old boy from the Section 8 neighborhood behind me knocked on my door one day, asking to rake leaves, and I agreed, wanting to be helpful, saying I would pay him like I did the pros, $5 per bag. Over the next 4 or 5 days he would come and rake for an hour or so, and then say he had to go home. I always paid him daily per his bag count. While it wasn’t the best, cheapest, or quickest way to get my leaves rakes, I felt like I was doing something to help disadvantaged youth, so I was good with it. On the last day he was only here for 20 minutes and I ran out of bags. He’d earned about $50 by then. I only had a $100 bill left, and I just didn’t want to have to go to a store to break it, so I told him to come back the next day, I’d get more bags and he could finish the job and he’d get paid then. Well, this was around 2 pm that day. By 3 pm he is texting me, saying, "Can I get the money?". I was like, hey kid, like I said, come tomorrow and finish up and I’ll give you the $100.
Here’s where it gets weird. I have a 10 year old cat, raised here, that likes to hang out in my backyard. He’s the sweetest cat in the world, a true gentleman, and he hardly ever leaves the yard, he just likes to hang out under the shrubberies and pretend he’s a great hunter. So it starts to sleet around 6 pm and I go to let him in. Usually he’s at the back door, he hates bad weather. He’s nowhere to be found. Checking my security cameras, I see him on video at 5:37 pm in my backyard just chilling. At 5:38 pm he sees something and sorta jogs off towards the front gate and out of the video frame. As I said, by 6 pm its sleeting. This is not a cat to stay out in the rain, much less sleet. I get worried, and then scared, so I’m outside calling for him, then driving around calling for him in the sleet. Nothing.
The next day this boy texts me again, he wants to know when he can get his money. I tell him I’m sorry, but my cat is missing, I’m frantic and he will have to wait. He immediately sends me a pic of my dead cat, laying on a railroad track, with his head missing, and asks, is this your cat?
I can’t answer for several hours because it is obviously my cat and I’m terribly distraught. He had to have died within 15-20 minutes of leaving my yard because it started to sleet at 6 pm and he’s totally dry. The tracks are 2 blocks away in the opposite direction of where my cat was going at 5:38 pm. Cats don’t move that fast.
So I assume this little shit of a teen killed my cat because he didn’t get his money when he wanted it. Does this sound reasonable or am I being an asshole?
i’m really sorry about your cat. losing a pet like that is devastating, and it’s understandable that you’re distraught.
it makes sense to feel suspicious given the timing and the texts from the boy, but it’s also important to be careful before assuming someone committed something that serious. right now, you’re dealing with grief and shock, which can amplify feelings of anger and blame.
the safest course would be to contact local authorities or animal control and show them the evidence you have, like security footage and messages, so they can investigate properly. even if it turns out it wasn’t him, you’ve protected yourself legally and given yourself the best chance of closure.
you’re not an asshole for being worried or upset. any pet owner would feel this way, but taking measured steps now is key, both for your peace of mind and safety.
NTA
First of all I’m really sorry about your cat and really sorry you saw that photo. I think you have good reasons to think that. I think so for three reasons. One how did your cat actually die like that. I doubt this can be an accident. If it’s not an accident, it being targeted is more likely than random. Two, it’s too coincidental that he specifically found the body. Three, his continued asking about the money clearly indicates that he didn’t think you’ll pay.
I think what you do now might be an important question. If he did it, how should you handle it and are you in danger? If he didn’t, how will his life be impacted if you involve the authorities? Are you going to continue to employ him? I honestly think you need to talk to the authorities and decide what you do based on that conversation. However, I’m not sure. I’m really sorry again. This is truly horrible.
If he didn’t wtf is he doing with that photo and knowing it’s her cat?!!!!?
he sent you a picture of your dead cat with its head missing while asking about money thats not normal behavior from anyone
the timeline doesnt add up because your cat was dry and the sleet started at 6pm and he was two blocks away in the opposite direction
NTA for thinking something is very wrong here because everything about this situation is suspicious
a 14 year old having a photo of your specific dead cat on railroad tracks hours after being told to wait for payment is not a coincidence
your cat never left the yard and suddenly ends up two blocks away headless right after this kid got impatient about money
he texted you twice in a few hours demanding payment and then magically found your dead cat the next day
cats dont jog toward the front gate and end up decapitated on railroad tracks in fifteen minutes on their own
the fact that he sent you that photo while asking about money shows he has no empathy and wanted to hurt you
please report this to the police because this is how dangerous behavior starts and escalates
kid is a psychopath
He’s a fuckin psychopath and I think you know it. Defenceless animals 1st … Report the little shit before its too late!