Indonesia police probe viral video of cat kicking that led to death in Central Java

INDONESIA: Police in Indonesia’s Central Java province have launched an investigation into a case of alleged animal cruelty after a video showing a man kicking a cat circulated widely on social media, drawing public outrage, authorities said on Monday.

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Blora Police said it had questioned the cat’s owner and an alleged perpetrator following a formal report and the spread of the footage online.

Blora Police Chief AKBP Wawan Andi Susanto, through Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Zaenul Arifin, said the inquiry began after information related to the video spread among the public. Examinations were carried out at Blora Police headquarters starting Monday morning.

“This morning, we conducted clarification and examination with investigators against the owner of the cat. In addition, the figure suspected of kicking the cat was also asked for clarification today at the office. The examination process is still ongoing,” Zaenul said in a statement on Monday, 2 February 2026.

Based on preliminary clarification from the cat’s owner, police confirmed that the animal has died, though not immediately after the incident.

“It is true that the cat is now dead. However, the process until it died took about a week from the incident. It is suspected that the cat was in a weak condition. At that time, the cat had left the house, and when it was found, it was already dead,” Zaenul said.

The incident took place at Kridosono Field in Blora, according to information received by the police.

Police identified the alleged perpetrator by the initials PJ, a 60-year-old resident of Karangjati sub-district, Blora regency. Zaenul said the suspect has been questioned but remains a witness at this stage, as investigators continue to gather statements from additional witnesses.

“His name is PJ, a resident of Karangjati,” Zaenul told reporters at Blora Police headquarters on Monday. He said investigators had yet to determine the motive behind the alleged act.

“We are still waiting for the results of the examination. We will hold an initial case review,” he said.

Authorities said the suspect could be charged under Article 337 of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP), which regulates animal abuse.

According to Zaenul, Article 337 stipulates a maximum sentence of one year in prison for harming or injuring an animal without justified purpose. If the act causes the animal to suffer for more than a week or results in death, the penalty increases to a maximum of 1.6 years in prison or a category III fine of up to 50 million rupiah ($3,200).

“The article suspected to be applied is Article 337 of the new Criminal Code,” Zaenul said.

The case gained national attention after an 11-second video was uploaded on social media and viewed millions of times. The footage shows a man wearing an orange shirt kicking a cat at Kridosono Field before running away.

According to a statement posted by the cat’s owner on social media account @faridaarz, the incident occurred on Sunday, 25 January 2026, at around 9 a.m. local time, while the owner was walking the cat in what was described as a relatively quiet area of the field.

The owner claimed the cat later became stressed and died, and alleged the man responded with threats when confronted.

Zaenul said police are continuing to collect witness statements and examine available evidence, including the viral video, to establish the full chronology of events and determine criminal responsibility.

“We are investigating the circulating information, including the identity of the alleged perpetrator, and collecting witness statements,” Zaenul said.

The Blora Police said the case would be handled in accordance with legal procedures and described the investigation as part of efforts to educate the public against violence towards animals, whether pets or wildlife.