COEUR d’ALENE — Residents don’t want the anonymous cat who was drenched in diesel fuel and possibly hung by a noose to have died in vain.

What they’re really after is justice.

The cat, which had oil in its lungs and deep cuts on its neck consistent with a noose, had to be put down despite several hours spent to save it after it was brought to Alpine Animal Hospital by a good Samaritan on Saturday.

Clinic workers said the cat, which did not have owner information, had the same amount of oil from its head to the end of its tail as if it had been dunked. Even after two baths, the clinic still smelled like a body shop, they said.

Reacting to the shocking case, an Athol woman who wished to remain anonymous offered a $500 reward on Wednesday for the conviction of a suspect.

"I think somebody knows something," she said. "This was such a gutless, cruel and cowardly act. I would like to find out who this is and have them taken off the street."

The apparent abuse has some residents wondering what will come next and, since it started with an abused animal, if it could continue to a person the next time.

"Someone in this case likely has mental and emotional problems," the reward donor said. "My opinion is that this person is not going to stop."

The cat's body temperature was so low it didn't even register on the thermometer. The temperature was below 93 degrees; normal is 101.5.

Clinic workers gave the black cat two baths, IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medication. However, the cat still had abnormal breathing and seizures.

The cat was found in the area of Montana Avenue and 13th Street. That's not far from where a cat took a 4.5-inch blow dart to the face last May in the area of North Eighth Street and East Birch Avenue. That cat survived. Police have not linked the two cases.

Cindy Mitchell commented on The Press website that the cases have put the community on alert.

"There is no way to put enough emphasis on the very real danger to the community," she wrote. "And, even though the link between the two incidents are not being linked at this time, the location is relevant and can clearly be taken as an escalation of violence that can and will continue as long as it continues to go unresolved.

"You don't need to be an animal lover to recognize the serious danger this places the entire community in. If you see something, report it."

Coeur d'Alene Police Det. Jared Reneau said this is the only recent animal abuse case his department has investigated.

"Hopefully we don't have any more," he said Wednesday, adding no suspects have been identified.

Debbie Jeffrey, executive director of the Kootenai Humane Society, said she was "horrified" when she heard about the case.

"We're trying to make people aware of it and to keep their eyes and ears open," she said.

Jeffrey said if people are contemplating killing or injuring animals, they can bring them to the Humane Society and the nonprofit will accept the animals with no questions asked.

"If people don't want the cat, bring it to us," she said, adding the nonprofit typically takes in cats up to 4 months regardless, and adults on an availability basis.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact police at 769-2320.