Kitten Wasn't Run Over By Car, Naugatuck Police Say In An Update

NAUGATUCK, CT — Naugatuck police said a deceased kitten found on Hunters Mountain Road was not run over by a car as originally thought. The kitten was already dead, according to police.

On April 25, animal control responded to a complaint of dumped kittens, and one ran over, in the roadway near 258 Hunters Mountain Road, police said.

Naugatuck Police Department and Naugatuck Animal Control posted to Facebook looking for information regarding a possible suspect vehicle; a white car. Police received one phone call from the public.

On April 27, Naugatuck Animal Control was contacted by an individual who owns a white car and was in the location of Hunters Mountain Road on Saturday morning, police said.

"The person stated he was driving on Hunters Mountain Road, saw a kitten in the roadway that looked like it was sleeping and another kitten walking nearby. He said he stopped his car to check on the kittens and saw that the one in the road was deceased. He left the area after that," police said.

The original witness was contacted again on April 28 and said they went outside of their home and saw a white car stopped in the roadway, police said. The witness did not see a person near the car, heard a car door close and the car drive away, police said.

"The witness saw something in the roadway where the car had been stopped and walked over to see what it was," police said. "The witness saw a kitten and it was not moving, and realized it was deceased and another kitten nearby, which the witness was able to capture. The witness never saw the person and could not verify that the person in the white car had released the kittens. The witness did not see the car run over the kitten."

Naugatuck Animal Control said the kitten did not have visible injuries consistent with being run over or a vehicle strike, police said. The kitten had visible signs that it had been deceased prior to the white car's arrival, police said. Animal Control concluded that the kitten was dead prior to the white car stopping, police said.

"It is unknown what the kitten actually died from, but it was not run over by a vehicle and it was deceased prior to the appearance of the white car in which the witness had provided. It is unknown if the kittens were feral or dumped at this location," police added.

If you have any more information please call Naugatuck police.