Florida Man Killed Neighbor When Their Cat Entered His Yard

In a dispute over a cat that had strayed into his yard, a Florida man is accused of murdering his neighbor, according to sheriff’s officials.

Clifford Anthony Bliss Jr., 58, became enraged when the cat went into his yard on Wednesday, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

According to authorities, Taylor was unarmed and told Bliss not to shoot the cat. That’s when Bliss shot Taylor, they said.

He was enraged about the cat, she said, and Taylor requested that he not be shot. She heard Bliss say, “Shoot the cat. Go ahead, shoot it” before hearing a gunshot, according to authorities.

Taylor was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center following the shooting and died Thursday night at 10:41 p.m., authorities said.

Bliss was arrested without difficulty. He is charged with second-degree murder and was being held in the Marion County Jail without bond.

Bliss does not have representation, according to court records. In north Florida, Umatilla is located near Ocala.

This is the second incident involving cat cruelty in less than a month.

Animal activists are condemning the shooting.

Unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse. We’re losing respect for life in general, We need to do something about this.

Astrid Rodriguez of the Florida Animal Control Association

The association is pushing local governments to make penalties stronger for cat killers. They are also asking anyone who witnesses animal cruelty not to look the other way but to report it.

“It’s not just about the animals, it’s about you as a person and your conscience,” Rodriguez said. “This is another human being and we need to take care of one another.”

Taylor will be buried at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, according to the family.