In Drauffelt and Eschweiler, located in the north of Luxembourg, at least three cats have been severely injured in recent weeks, raising concerns about whether these injuries are a result of animal cruelty or accidents.
A resident of Drauffelt recently shared a distressing photo with RTL, showing one of their cats with its hind legs severed.
The cat was healthy on Sunday morning, but by the afternoon, it was found covered in blood in its kennel. Despite being rushed to the vet, the only option was to euthanise the animal.
Following the publication of this story, several comments pointed out that this type of injury could be caused by mowers used by farmers, noting that it is possible for a hunting cat to become so focused on its prey that it ignores its surroundings.
The Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) informed RTL that such cases are not typically included in their statistics. However, they noted that injuries from mowing are relatively rare in the region.
Veterinary clinics in Krakelshaff and Bereldange echoed this sentiment. One vet mentioned encountering only one case of a dog injured by a lawnmower in the past six years. Another vet in Bereldange reported a recent case from Belgium involving a cat with similar injuries, the first such case in their 30-year career.
Both professionals expressed scepticism about the likelihood of a cat being so engrossed in its prey that it would not notice an approaching tractor. One of them suggested that someone with malicious intent could be driving around the Drauffelt region, while the other found it unlikely that someone could sever a cat's legs while it was alive. The latter thus deemed the mower explanation more plausible, especially given that machines are also moving much faster these days.
Additionally, an increase in mice populations this year might lead to more cats hunting in fields, potentially putting them at greater risk.
The exact cause of the injuries remains unclear. Whether inflicted by an individual with a sharp object or an accident involving a tractor mower, the mystery surrounding the maimed cats in northern Luxembourg persists.
