August 5, 2025, 1:14 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
When the 2-year-old Bengal cat Nando is found limping and injured on the sofa one morning, his owners have no idea he has been shot—with a small-caliber bullet. The case raises questions not only about animal welfare but also about the state of our society.
On March 21, Nando goes through the cat flap into the night as usual. For his owners, Ralf Teichmüller and his partner, this is nothing unusual: The spirited Bengal cat is an outdoor cat, loves his nightly adventures, and returns in the morning for breakfast. But this morning, he is already on the sofa—and something is wrong.
The Bullet Was Deep in the Bone
“He was limping and had a wound on the inside of his thigh. At first, we thought he had injured himself somewhere,” Ralf Teichmüller tells PETBOOK. But the injury doesn’t heal. When the cat is still in pain on Monday, they go to the vet—and shortly thereafter to the animal clinic in Braunschweig. An X-ray reveals the truth: A bullet from a .22 caliber firearm is lodged in Nando’s leg. The cat was likely shot intentionally.
“The surgeon, who is also a hunter, recognized it immediately,” Teichmüller says. The leg had to be completely opened and flushed with over four liters of fluid because hair, dirt, and bacteria were in the wound. Afterward, a metal plate was inserted into Nando’s leg. “We took the bullet with us—I went straight to the police and filed a report.”
Also of interest: When Hunters Are Allowed to Shoot Dogs and Cats
“The Officer in Charge Was—Let’s Say—Not Very Committed”
The bullet is handed over, and photos of the surgical wound are available. Yet almost nothing happens. Although the investigating officer obtains a list of registered weapons in the area, a ballistic examination is not conducted.
“The officer in charge was—let’s say—not very committed,” Teichmüller describes the situation. “He basically said the cat could have run far away during the night. But Nando isn’t one to roam for miles. He can sit under a bush for hours watching mice. He’s always stayed close to the house—that was the case at our old home too.” Teichmüller is convinced: The incident happened near the house.
“Our Objections Were Dismissed Over the Phone”
“With a ballistic examination, the suspect weapons could have been seized, test shots made, and the weapon identified,” Teichmüller says. But the prosecutor’s office has since closed the case, “as it is not possible to identify a perpetrator,” as Teichmüller is informed. Through his lawyer, he gains access to the investigation file.
According to the file, the police believe “that no conclusions about the weapon used can be drawn from the bullet” and that it is a small caliber, but an examination of the bullet “is deemed unnecessary at this time.”
“Our objections that Nando doesn’t go far from our house were dismissed over the phone during the ongoing investigation,” Teichmüller says. “According to local assessment, it cannot necessarily be assumed that the cat was shot in the village.”
“In My Opinion, Many Aspects Were Not Considered”
Teichmüller and his lawyer will now appeal the closure of the case. “In my opinion, many aspects were not considered—especially regarding the bullet used and Nando’s wounds,” the cat owner explains his decision.
“I will file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office to have the case reopened. I am also contacting the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture. There is a policy paper that proposes extending the radius for so-called ‘stray’ cats to 350 meters—at the same time, house cats and dogs should no longer be simply shot. Although it is not yet in effect, I want to bring the case to their attention.”
Veterinary Costs Exceed 8,000 Euros
The damage now amounts to over 8,000 euros. Nando’s wound became infected multiple times, reopened, and required further treatment. “It was a never-ending story,” Teichmüller says. “He had to undergo multiple surgeries, and we had to have his leg re-bandaged several times; he wore socks instead of a bandage.” Later X-rays even revealed pus between the bone and the plate. For a while, it was uncertain whether he would keep the leg. To this day, the healing is not complete. “And it’s unclear whether there will be any long-term effects,” Teichmüller adds.
But it’s not just the physical suffering of the animal that burdens the family. The psychological effects on Nando are also severe: “He has become skittish. If a branch snaps outside, he flinches. That wasn’t the case before.”
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What Does the Responsible Police Department Say?
PETBOOK asked the responsible police department for a statement on the case. Specifically, we wanted to know why no ballistic examination of the bullet was conducted to compare it with registered weapons—especially given that a specific financial loss of several thousand euros has occurred.
We also inquired how the responsible department assesses the case of Nando from an animal welfare perspective—especially in light of the planned amendment to the hunting law in Lower Saxony, which aims to strengthen the protection of pets.
The press office of the Braunschweig police department then informed us that the press authority has now shifted to the prosecutor’s office in Hildesheim. There, Christina Wotschke, spokeswoman and senior prosecutor of the Hildesheim prosecutor’s office, responded to the question: “A ballistic examination was not conducted because, according to the state criminal office, no conclusions about the weapon used can be drawn from the bullet. It cannot even be determined whether a long or short weapon was used.”
The question about the assessment from an animal welfare perspective cannot be answered by the prosecutor’s office: “The prosecutor’s office does not evaluate; it is a law enforcement agency,” it says. For Teichmüller, the information from the prosecutor’s office in this form is nothing new, as he tells PETBOOK.
“Something Fundamentally Needs to Change”
“This whole process just leaves us speechless and stunned,” Teichmüller summarizes. Not just because of the shooting itself, as Teichmüller explains. But because of the indifference. “Nando is always a family member to us.” Nevertheless, he wants to keep fighting. Not just for justice in his case, but for all pet owners out there, as he says.
“I want the case to be taken seriously. I want the bullet to be examined. I expect the shooter to be found—at least if it involves a registered weapon.” Teichmüller also wonders: What could have happened if this had occurred during the day? “What if a child had come around the corner at that moment and said, ‘Oh, a beautiful cat’—and got hit? A .22 caliber could kill a child. That scares me.”
In the meantime, the family is active on Instagram, providing updates on a dedicated website about Nando’s health and seeking contact with others affected. They also hope for political movement: A reform of the hunting law is underway in Lower Saxony to better protect pets. “It’s not about revenge for us. We want something to change in the system.”
Have you experienced a similar case?
Have you or someone you know also had a cat, dog, or other animal injured or lost to a firearm? Then contact us! Write to us at redaktion@petbook.de .