Owner's horror as cat is thrown from window

Buy photos » Zach Begg with Bruno the cat who is recovering after being dropped out of a second floor window. 05.012.001.rug.jg2.

A CAT owner was horrified when he saw his beloved pet thrown from a second floor window to the ground below.

Nick Begg looked up from the bedroom window of his Featherbed Lane council flat to see one of a group of youths - who had been causing trouble on the floor above all evening - holding his eight-year-old cat Bruno out of a window.

Nick rushed outside to try and save Bruno but was too late, as the youth holding him had let go and Bruno plummeted 30ft to the ground.

The civil servant said what happened next was a blur, with his distressed cat running off and hiding after hitting the ground.

He said: "I know there were three lads. One stood calmly there, saying it had nothing to do with him although he had stood there and allowed it to happen.

"The one that actually threw him out stood there and tried to deny everything. He just said the cat was frightened and had run off and the other lad had scarpered.

"I really don't know how I managed to keep my hands off them if I am being honest, but I can shout really loud when I want to."

Mr Begg has lived in the block of six flats for the last eight years without any trouble until recently when groups of teenagers began visiting regularly.

Since then he and his neighbours have had to put up with visits from as many as 20 people hanging around in corridors, drinking, swearing and damaging the entrance door to the block.

The problems culminated on the evening of January 20 when Mr Begg heard what he believed to be a group of youths chasing something around on the floor above.

It was then he realised it might be his cat, who was out at the time, at which point he looked out his window to see what was about to happen.

Mr Begg spent the whole evening searching for Bruno and waiting for him to eventually return home.

Bruno suffered a partially collapsed lung, which will heal with time but could cost Mr Begg hundreds of pounds in vet bills.

Mr Begg has contacted the police and the RSPCA, but each told the Observer there were no witnesses - meaning they could not investigate further.

He said: "I do not know them personally but I do know their names. I am hoping the police and RSPCA are going to investigate. They have the names but it is my word against theirs."

A spokesman for Rugby Borough Council said: "We're aware of the problems there and are doing everything we can to get them resolved properly."

Zach Begg with Bruno the cat who is recovering after being dropped out of a second floor window. 05.012.001.rug.jg2