A Brooklyn cat colony was decimated last week after at least 18 cats were fatally poisoned, according to the colony’s caretaker. The incident occurred in the Bath Beach neighborhood, where the group of felines has been under local care.

Albert Berto, who has been feeding the cats daily, discovered the mass poisoning on September 8. Upon going outside to provide the animals with breakfast, he noticed that only one cat responded. Further investigation led him to find multiple deceased cats exhibiting signs of bleeding. In addition to the cats, three raccoons in the area were also found dead.

Berto described the poison as potent enough to "take out an elephant," emphasizing the severity of the act. The circumstances suggest that the animals were intentionally targeted with a large quantity of rat poison.

The incident has sparked strong reactions from residents and animal welfare groups in Bath Beach, who condemned the killing and called for an investigation to identify those responsible. Local authorities have not yet released a formal statement or indicated whether any leads have been developed related to the case.

This event has raised broader concerns about the treatment of feral and stray animals in urban settings and the need for increased protections and monitoring to prevent similar occurrences. Meanwhile, the community remains mourning the loss of a significant portion of the once-thriving cat colony.