PETA offers reward for tips on South L.A. cat shootings

Animal welfare group seeks information on pellet gun attacks that have injured and killed local felines.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:48pm

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After at least three cats were shot by a pellet gun in South Los Angeles over the last two months, the animal rights organization PETA is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the shooter. One cat died from its injuries, while another named Albert suffered a bullet lodged in its spine, leaving the feline with a limp.

Why it matters

The shootings have raised concerns about animal cruelty and the need for stronger enforcement of laws protecting stray and feral cats in the city. Los Angeles has an estimated population of nearly 1 million stray cats, prompting the launch of a Citywide Cat Program in 2022 to humanely manage the population.

The details

According to a representative from the animal rescue group Friends of Normie Rescue, the cats were shot by a pellet gun since February in the South L.A. area. One cat died from its injuries, while another named Albert was found in an alley near the corner of W. 94th Street and Vermont Avenue with a bullet lodged in its spine, leaving the feline with a limp. Albert is now in foster care but continues to deal with pain from the shooting.

  • The cats have been shot since February 2026.
  • The Citywide Cat Program in Los Angeles was launched in 2022.

The players

PETA

An international animal rights organization that is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for shooting the cats.

Friends of Normie Rescue

A local animal rescue group that informed PETA about the cat shootings in South Los Angeles.

Albert

A cat that was shot by a pellet gun and is now in foster care dealing with pain from the injury to its spine.

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What they’re saying

“It's past time that local animal control do their jobs and investigate these shootings before more cats end up injured or dead.”

— Lisa Lange, Senior Vice President, PETA

What’s next

PETA is urging local authorities to thoroughly investigate the shootings and apprehend the perpetrator before more cats are harmed.

The takeaway

The cat shootings in South Los Angeles highlight the need for stronger protections and enforcement for the city's large stray cat population, as well as the importance of reporting any incidents of animal cruelty to authorities.