Lewis, a black and white polydactyl cat, made history and headlines as the first cat ever to be placed under house arrest. After the cat attacked several people, a restraining order was placed against him. When he escaped from his home and did it again, he was put under house arrest, the first time either of these measures had ever been taken with a cat. Ruth Cisero, the cat’s owner, was also put on trial for failing to comply with the restraining order and reckless endangerment.
Cisero was told that she would be granted probation if she agreed to have Lewis euthanized, but she refused, saying she would rather move away than have her cat killed. She testified that Lewis had been acting in self-defense, as people had sprayed him with a hose, thrown eggs at him, and subjected him to other forms of abuse before he became violent. Lewis’s story garnered international media attention and sparked a “Save Lewis the Cat” movement to raise money for the defense effort. Fortunately, the judge dismissed the reckless endangerment charge and Lewis was allowed to live out the rest of his life as an indoor cat.
Cisero was required to do 50 hours of community service, which she saw as a way to give something back to members of the community who had been supportive of her efforts to save Lewis. An Avon lady who had been scratched and bitten by Lewis sued Cisero, receiving an undisclosed sum in the settlement. However, she said she was happy that the cat’s life had been spared as she just wanted him to be kept indoors, not killed.
You can see a picture of Lewis and Ruth Cisero here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_(cat)
Reference: Salzman, A. (2006). “Judge Orders House Arrest for Lewis, the Attack Cat.” New York Times, June 20, NYTimes.com.
For more cats that have made history and headlines, visit the main Famous Cats page.