A Crystal Lake family is searching for answers after their beloved cat, Timmy, was shot and left paralyzed over the weekend.
“We’re devastated,” said Kylie Rodriguez, whose orange cat Timmy was critically injured. “He’s not living his best life right now.”
Timmy, who was once a lively and adventurous cat, has been struggling since he was shot early Sunday morning. For nearly a week, he’s been noticeably different—more subdued, frustrated, and in pain.
“He seems very sad and kind of depressed,” Rodriguez said. “He’s not his usual self—he’s just dragging around and frustrated.”
Rodriguez believes the shooting took place sometime between 9:37 a.m. and 10:57 a.m. on Sunday, based on video footage captured by her Ring camera.
“In the first video, you see Timmy leave the yard perfectly fine, and then in the next video, at 10:57, he’s dragging himself back to the yard,” Rodriguez explained.
When Rodriguez took Timmy to the vet, she was shocked to learn that a bullet had lodged in his spine, leaving him paralyzed.
“I was completely shocked,” Rodriguez said. “That was the last thing I expected to hear. A bullet? I just couldn’t believe it.”
Timmy had been a stray before finding his way to Rodriguez’s family last year. Though he still spends time outdoors, he quickly became an integral part of their lives. He even wears a collar with an Airtag to help his family keep track of him.
“Timmy knows the routine. You open the door, call his name, and he comes bolting in. He knows when it’s time to eat. He’s got an internal clock,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez shared Timmy’s heartbreaking story on social media, and the community has rallied around him, offering support and well wishes.
Despite the trauma, Rodriguez remains hopeful that Timmy will eventually regain his energetic personality. “I know he longs to jump and run around like he used to,” she said. “I’m hopeful that he’ll bounce back.”
In the meantime, Rodriguez is exploring treatment options and plans to take Timmy to a neurologist later this week. She is keeping those following Timmy’s journey updated on their Instagram page.
To help with medical expenses, Rodriguez and her family have set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for Timmy’s care.
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