Ceuta Court Investigates Disappearance of Cats Across Seven Areas of the City

The justice system in Ceuta has peine proceedings to clarify the disappearance and discovery of dead cats, some showing signs of mutilation, in various parts of the city, alongside remains of other birds.

The **Tribunal de Instancia 1 de Ceuta** is immersed in an investigation seeking to address a disturbing situation that has arisen in several areas of the city. The case revolves around the disappearance of an indeterminate number of cats and the discovery of their carcasses, some showing signs of mutilation or severe injuries. The complaint, filed by the association **Zoelandia**, also notes the discovery of remains of pigeons and seagulls that appear to have been devoured. The events, which allegedly took place mainly between **August 17 and August 19, 2026**, have been described by the complainants as potentially constituting crimes against animals, defined in Article **340 bis of the Penal Code**.

## Signs of a Possible Crime Against Animals

The association **Zoelandia** filed the complaint after becoming aware of several worrying incidents. Through information in the media and testimonies from individuals caring for feline colonies in **Ceuta**, a series of events of "special gravity" were reported. These included the disappearance of cats from different colonies, their forced displacement from usual locations, the destruction of their feeding and shelter points, and the discovery of deceased individuals. Descriptions of the injuries found on some of these animals are particularly alarming, mentioning mutilations, cuts, or even being pierced by sharp objects.

The complaint emphasizes the need to determine if these injuries are consistent with acts of violence and whether the deaths occurred under circumstances requiring an exhaustive veterinary and police investigation. It is not only about cats; pigeons and seagulls partially devoured have also been reported found in the same areas. The complainants are cautious and do not attribute authorship to any specific individual or group at this initial stage, making it clear that determining the circumstances, causes of injury and death, and identity of potential responsible parties is the task of the judicial and police investigation.

## Affected Areas and the Scale of the Problem

The areas where these incidents have been recorded include **Huerta Téllez**, **Carmelitas**, **calle Goya**, **Príncipe**, **Sidi Embarek**, **Punta Blanca**, and the vicinity of the desalination plant. Some unofficial sources speak of approximately **65 cats** disappeared or found dead in total. The seriousness of the events, according to collected testimonies, has escalated as more details have emerged. There is mention of individuals missing body parts or presenting injuries that, according to published testimonies, are consistent with acts of violence.

The association **Zoelandia** considers it essential that these indications and testimonies be verified. To this end, they request that the carcasses or remains of animals that may still exist be located and subjected to veterinary-forensic examination. The goal is to determine the cause and approximate time of death, the nature of the injuries (whether ante mortem or post mortem), the possible existence of cuts, mutilations, or trauma, and the instrument that may have been used. It also seeks to determine if there are signs consistent with run-over, attacks by other animals, poisoning, or other causes, and above all, if there was deliberate human intervention.

## Investigating the Possible Connection with Settlements

The information published in regional press has attempted to temporally link the disappearance and displacement of the cats with the installation of human settlements in locations previously occupied by the feline colonies. However, complainants clarify that mere spatial or temporal coincidence is insufficient to incivil attribute the death, mutilation, or injury of the animals to any person. Therefore, the judicial investigation must differentiate between animals that simply abandoned their colony, those that died accidentally, those that suffered injuries from other causes, and those upon which there is objective evidence of having been deliberately injured or killed by a person.

The complaint also considers the possibility that this is not a single episode, but rather different findings produced in various areas. For this reason, it must be investigated whether there is unity or plurality of authors, as well as the temporal, territorial, or material connection between the various incidents. The objective is to determine if they correspond to independent actions or a repeated conduct that can be legally qualified accordingly.

To carry out this investigation, the complainants request a series of diligences. Among them, they ask that official notification be issued to **SEPRONA** of the **Guardia Civil**, the **National Police**, and the **Local Police of Ceuta** to report any complaints, warnings, calls, or incidents related to dead, injured, disappeared, or abused cats since the beginning of the events. They also request that specialized officers conduct ocular inspections of the affected areas and any other location indicated by colony caretakers.

Finally, it is considered crucial to compare the census of cats before the events with the current census to objectively determine the approximate number of disappeared individuals. The judicial investigation must clarify whether, trinc these disappearances and macabre discoveries, there is a pattern of deliberate animal abuse.