Neighbors on San Antonio's East Side are teaming up with Animal Care Services to track down a cat spotted with a glass jar stuck on its head east of downtown. The animal was first seen near East Houston Street and North Grimes Street and has been slipping through back yards and alleys. Volunteers and officers have been working since Wednesday to coax the cat into a humane trap without causing it further harm.
Animal Care Services officers set a humane trap near East Houston Street and North Grimes Street after multiple sightings, according to KENS5. Neighbors have been coordinating with officers, sharing sightings to narrow the cat's range. A photo published by KENS5 and credited to the city's Animal Care Services shows the jar fully covering the animal's head.
According to City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, officers have been searching since Wednesday and have urged residents not to handle the cat, even if they can safely contain it. The department says any captured cat will be evaluated by the city's veterinary team for possible injuries and dehydration.
How officers are trying to help
Officials placed a humane trap where the cat was last seen and are checking it regularly while working with neighbors to confirm the animal's movement patterns. The goal is to trap the cat and remove the jar in a controlled setting so it will not be injured, according to KENS5.
Why this matters
San Antonio has been expanding spay and neuter services along with medical capacity to handle community and stray animals, efforts that officials say reduce long-term suffering and shelter overcrowding. Local reporting and public records show the city recently approved additional veterinary capacity and clinic expansions, according to Texas Public Radio.
How to report sightings
If you see the cat, do not approach it. Instead, call Animal Care Services at (210) 207-4738, file a 311 report, or email [email protected], according to City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. Neighbors are also sharing photos and timestamps to help officers pinpoint the animal's route.
Volunteers and officers say they hope to trap the cat and remove the jar safely, and the community has rallied to pass along sightings and keep watch. This story will be updated if Animal Care Services reports a capture or issues new guidance.
