BRONX, N.Y. — A man is accused of throwing a cat to its death out of his 15th-floor apartment window, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced Tuesday.

Miguel Perez, 32, was arraigned on Thursday on charges of animal cruelty and is due back in court on June 21, according to the District Attorney.

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“We are supposed to love and care for our companion animals,” said Clark. “ The abuse of animals will not be tolerated.”

In March 2026, at around 10:20 a.m., Perez was upset after Shadow, the family cat, scratched his hand, according to investigators.

Out of anger, Perez allegedly threw the cat out of the window of his apartment, causing its death as it hit the pavement below, according to police.

If found guilty on all charges, Perez may face a maximum of three years in prison.

Andrew Cruz is a digital content producer. A native New Yorker, he joined PIX11 in 2009 as a weather producer. More of his work can be found here.

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