No charges in death of Bigfork cat

Criminal charges won't be filed in the death of a kitten on Nov. 21 at Sliters Ace Hardware in Bigfork.

The incident was reported to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office by a worker at Animal Control. She said a man brought in the kitten from Sliters, and the feline had suffered from trauma to the head.

The cat had been hanging around the store for about a week according to the deputy's report. Three people in the store tried to catch the cat, and it bit and scratched all three.

Store manager Tim Dalton hit the cat with a board. The animal was taken to Animal Control where it was euthanized, and the staff member reported the incident as a case of cruelty to animals.

The Sheriff's Office and County Attorney's Office found the report unfounded.

Dalton "didn't hunt the cat down and beat it to death," Meehan said. The kitten was biting Dalton and the blow was in self-defense.

Deputy County Attorney Tim Wenz will not file charges.