Woman Tosses Cat Into Bushes, Stranger’s Quick Action Goes Viral

15 hours ago 6

A California woman is speaking out after witnessing a shocking act of cruelty involving an elderly cat—an experience that she says felt like an “out of body” moment.

Jessica Estrada, 42, was hiking along the Two Trees Trail in Riverside on June 4 when she witnessed a woman stop her car, get out, and throw a cat into the bushes. To Estrada’s horror, when the frightened cat tried to come back, the woman picked him up again—and threw him even farther—before driving away.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Estrada told Newsweek. “It felt like time slowed down. I was too far away to stop her, but I knew I had to help that cat.”

Estrada, who already has two rescue cats at home, immediately called Animal Control. Although the officer was more than an hour away, she waited nearby, keeping a close eye on the traumatized cat—later named Joey—so he wouldn’t disappear.

“Joey was frozen in place, completely disoriented. He was clearly someone’s pet and had no idea how to survive outside,” she said.

By a stroke of luck, Park Ranger Jay was doing rounds in the area and sprang into action. “She said Joey likely wouldn’t have survived the night,” Estrada said. Between predators and heat, his chances were slim. Jay called a coworker, and together they transported Joey safely to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Joey, now neutered and healthy despite his age, is officially up for adoption. He’s not in danger of being euthanized, and the shelter promises he’ll stay there until he finds a forever home.

Estrada shared the footage online, and it quickly went viral on her Instagram account, @prancing_fox, racking up over 2 million views. In her caption, she wrote: “Animals are not disposable. Please speak up when you see something wrong. You might be the only chance they have.”

Estrada believes the timing of the event wasn’t random. “As a person of faith, I feel like God placed me there in that moment for Joey.”

Though still haunted by what she saw, she hopes the message reaches the person responsible. “What they did was cruel and deeply wrong. I hope they find the courage to confront what’s broken inside them,” she said.

Now, she’s urging others to adopt Joey and help turn the page on the worst chapter of his life. “We witnessed his darkest moment. Let’s make sure the rest of his story is filled with warmth, love, and peace.”

Online commenters praised both Estrada and Ranger Jay. One wrote: “Thank you for stepping in and making a difference. You’re a hero.” Another added: “This broke my heart, but I’m so glad Joey was saved.”

Click the video below to watch the full story:

Click ‘SHARE’ below to pass it on to a friend or family member!

This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.

Read Entire Article