What started as feeding stray cats behind an area pet store has now spiraled into accusations of assault, screaming matches, Facebook threats, and calls for criminal trespass orders.
And deputies say the drama just keeps escalating.
According to reports from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first dispatched to Petland in South Point after employees reported a confrontation involving a woman staff members referred to as the “cat lady.”
Employees told deputies the woman had been feeding stray cats behind the business for years despite repeated requests to stop.
Store management said the landlord had instructed employees not to allow feeding behind the building because leftover food was attracting rodents.
According to the report, employees routinely removed bowls of cat food left near the rear of the business.
That’s when tensions boiled over.
Staff told deputies a woman became furious after discovering food left for the cats had been thrown away. Employees claimed she screamed at workers behind the building and later confronted them again outside the front of the store after closing.
One employee alleged the woman shoved him during the confrontation, causing him to stumble backward. Witnesses backed up the account and requested charges be pursued.
But the woman told deputies a very different story.
She claimed she had been feeding the stray cats behind the business for roughly 14 years and accused employees of insulting her and escalating the situation. She denied assaulting anyone and insisted workers had yelled at and disrespected her first.
Deputies collected statements, reviewed surveillance footage from behind the business, and documented the incident.
Then Came the Facebook Threats
Just two days later, the situation reportedly escalated again.
According to supplemental reports, the store’s general manager contacted deputies after receiving a series of threatening Facebook messages connected to the ongoing cat dispute.
The messages allegedly included:
- threats of fighting employees
- derogatory insults
- statements claiming the sender would continue showing up at the store to feed stray cats
One message reportedly warned:
“You’ll never get rid of me.”
Store management again requested criminal trespass action.
Deputies documented the online messages and forwarded the case to prosecutors for review of possible charges, including menacing.