Texas police say that a pet cat played a pivotal role in saving her elderly owner from an attack by a man who was choking her on Christmas day.
San Antonio police said they arrested 60-year-old Nathaniel Charles Derouen on Dec. 27 for the alleged attack on the 74-year-old woman.
Investigators said that the woman had allowed Derouen to live with her after his residence was damaged in a fire. They had been in a relationship years prior to the incident, according to police.
The woman would also allow Derouen to use her vehicle, but he became angry at her after she refused to let him use it on Christmas day. The man allegedly pushed her onto a bed and began choking her by covering her mouth and her nose and preventing her from breathing.
That’s when her heroic cat jumped into the fray.
The woman told police that her pet cat jumped onto Derouen and scratched him, which scared him away as he has a fear of cats.
She was then able to escape and call police.
The affidavit said that crime scene investigators corroborated the victim’s claims by using alternate light source photographs, which are able to show injuries through the skin.
Derouen was booked on charges of injury to the elderly and assault. He is being held on a bond of $35,000.
Police said the man had been previously convicted of assault but that he obtained a deferred adjudication.
A similar story was reported in 2022 when Bandit, a pet cat, jumped onto its sleeping owner and scratched at his arms to alarm him to the presence of home intruders. The owner was able to grab his gun, but the intruders were able to get away.
“You hear of guard dogs,” said the homeowner. “This is a guard cat.”
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This happens more often than people think.
Cats are very protective of their “pride”, and can give some serious crap.
Our big cat Jake made it clear he would scratch the eyes our of anyone who tried to hurt one of us. And people knew it. Glad this kind woman is OK.
Hope this dirtbag stays far away from her and Bandit – he’s a danger to all.