8 kittens abused, 2 fatally, since late May, says Calgary Humane Society

Several cats have been found in various states of distress over the past couple of months — in some cases, bound and covered in a tar-like substance, the Calgary Humane Society says.

Eight kittens were abused and two have died, including one found dead and zip-tied to a fence in the southwest community of Kingsland on Monday.

The animal welfare organization says that after an examination, it was determined the cat was beaten around its head and abdomen.

The humane society says this is among the most recent and egregious in a string of similar incidents since May 30 in the area of Sandy Beach and Kingsland. All of the kittens were between six and eight weeks old.

Another kitten was found dead Tuesday, according to the animal welfare organization.

Brad Nichols, director of enforcement at the Calgary Humane Society, says the organization is working with the Calgary Police Service to find the person or persons responsible.

"These victims could not be more vulnerable. It is incredibly concerning to see an isolated incident of this nature, let alone half a dozen," Nichols said in a release.

He tells CBC News it's unlikely the kittens are strays — given their young age, they were likely taken from their mother.

"We're puzzled by why this age of kitten seems to be the prime target," Nichols said.

"These are cases two months, 70 days apart, and they remain the same age kittens. So we're not talking about the same litter. These cats are being sourced from somewhere.

The non-profit organization is urging pet owners to keep their cats inside. Besides incidents such as this, there is also a danger of the pets being harmed or killed by traffic or predation.

Nichols added this serves as a cautionary tale for the careless rehoming of animals.

"Quite often animals are taken for free off of online marketplaces and those ones are ripe for victimization, unfortunately," he said.

The humane society is asking for anyone who may have information about the kitten abuse to come forward. To report information on where these kittens came from or who is responsible for their abuse, call the Calgary Humane Society at 403-205-4455 or submit an online report.