Kitten raped – perpetrators being sought

The kitten Rosi belonged to a cat colony in the Tor Tre Teste district in Rome and was found dying in a garden. According to the animal rights group that reported the incident, the kitten had been raped. The case has caused outrage and authorities are now trying to find the perpetrators.

On Saturday morning, Rosi was seen playing and purring but then disappeared. She reappeared on Monday in a terrible state. A passing family found her on the street, dragging her paws in a pool of blood with a torn and infected genital area.

While Rosi is being cared for by veterinarians and local organizations, Rocco Ferraro of Rome’s environment and animal protection department is set to file a report with the public prosecutor’s office.

– This event is of unprecedented seriousness and cannot be considered an isolated incident. We are faced with a fact that directly questions the issue of security and territorial control. As local institutions, we are doing all we can, following the case step by step, and preparing a report to the prosecutor’s office, in coordination with the relevant authorities, said Ferraro in a statement.

– But it is clear that incidents of this kind require a broader reflection on local governance and the tools available to prevent and combat similar acts, he added.

– I want to thank the residents who saved Rosi and the veterinarians who tirelessly care for her: the community’s response was immediate and shows great sensitivity. However, further measures are now needed regarding safety, as those who commit acts of violence of this kind represent a danger that cannot be underestimated. I appeal to anyone who can provide useful information: identifying the perpetrator is an absolute priority and a necessary signal for the entire area.

Ferraro also pointed out that someone capable of committing such a serious act of violence against an animal may also commit the same act against a human.

Rosi, la gattina che è stata violentata a Roma, si sta riprendendo piano piano, le sue condizioni cliniche stanno migliorando. Sta ricominciando a mangiare, gli esami sono più incoraggianti e, anche se per la ferita ci vorrà ancora tempo, oggi accanto a lei c’è una parola che… pic.twitter.com/I6KOJ48tvF

— LNDC Animal Protection (@lndc_italia) March 26, 2026

Is recovering

According to an update from a couple of days ago, Rosi has not yet started eating independently, but her health has stabilized and she is responding well to treatment at the specialized veterinary center in Rome after the initial emergency care by Dr. Daniela Mignacca.

The animal rights ombudsperson of Rome’s city council has announced that they will ask the city’s prosecutor’s office to file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrators. Investigations to identify those responsible have also begun, with local police reviewing security camera footage from the park. The act is fully qualified as animal cruelty, carrying a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.

Last year, an 18-year-old woman and her boyfriend were attacked in the same park. Three men raped the woman while her boyfriend was forced to watch.