Man Stabbed Cat That Vomited on Bed, Deputies Say

A 68-year-old Sarasota man faces cruelty to animal charges after deputies say he threw a knife at his cat after she threw up on his bed.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was called out to Ronald Delvecchio’s home after a complaint was lodged about an Aug. 14 incident at his Lockwood Ridge Road home. According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies were told he stabbed his cat with a silver knife and did not seek veterinary care.

When a deputy arrived at Delvecchio’s home to investigate, the man confirmed the story, the report stated.

“Yah, that’s me and that’s my cat, Willow,” the report said Delvecchio told the deputy who paid him a visit. “She threw up on my bed and I threw a knife at her. It stuck her a little bit, but she’s all right. It’s healed already.”

Delvecchio, the report said, went on to invite the deputy inside and explained it was the third time in a week the cat threw up on his bed.

“The defendant went so far as to demonstrate his actions by making a throwing motion and displaying one of his kitchen knives (silver),” the report added.

When the deputy met Willow, he saw the black-and-white cat had a small cut on her left side, about an inch in length. The wound, he noted in the report, was not healed.

When told the wound had not healed, Devecchio told the deputy that he’d been drinking the day the cat was injured, but recalled she did run off with the knife stuck in her side, the report said.

Delvecchio was charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail Friday and was being held Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Meanwhile, Willow remains in veterinary care. She is expected to make a full recovery, the report noted. Delvecchio has relinquished custody of the cat.

Booking photo and picture of Willow courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office