Padova authorities investigate disappearance of 14 cats

Authorities in Padova have launched an investigation into the disappearance of 14 cats between 2024 and 2025 in a central area near a feline colony in the Stanga district. Four young individuals of Asian origin are currently under investigation for theft and other minor offenses after witnesses reported seeing them using food to lure and capture the animals.

Investigators and the legal representative for the local feline colony volunteer, Oleksandra Stukova, are exploring the possibility that the animals were targeted for the production of torture videos intended for sale on the dark web or specialized social media groups. The legal team has requested the seizure and analysis of the suspects' mobile phones and computers to determine the ultimate purpose of the captures and whether the animals were being used to profit from organized animal cruelty communities.