A 44-year-old bank employee was arrested Monday in Tokyo on suspicion of using a crossbow to kill a neighbor's cat, police officials said.
Akihiko Higuchi, an Industrial Bank of Japan employee and resident of Kinuta, Setagaya Ward, allegedly shot the cat of a 69-year-old woman who lives nearby when the animal entered his property sometime in late December.
He is suspected of violating the law on animal protection. Police have recovered two types of crossbows and 22 bolts from Higuchi's residence.
Higuchi has told police that he killed the cat because it often entered his garden and made a mess. However, police, who also found a toy mouse and other cat toys in his home, believe he lured the cat onto his property, the officials said.
He also said he has shot about 10 cats with a crossbow since last summer. Local police have received complaints from people in Higuchi's neighborhood that their cats have been hurt by arrows.