Injured cat tossed into Mission Viejo dumpster recovering, cat owner's roommate arrested

Just hours after Mission Viejo Animal Services announced the search for a man who tossed a cat into a dumpster, authorities announced Wednesday that a suspect has been arrested.

Authorities said the owner of the cat has reported her roommate is the suspect.

"Through our social media, the cat owner came forward and identified the man was her roommate seen in the video, and we conducted an investigation and have probable cause that the suspect was in violation of animal cruelty," Mission Viejo Animal Services Supervisor Kyle Werner said in a statement from the city.

Animal Services received a report on Tuesday about the cat "suffering from obvious trauma."

Department of investigation surveillance footage in the area showed a light blue or gray Volkswagen Tiguan driving behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster around 7:20 p.m.  A man is then seen exiting the vehicle, carrying a white garbage bag, and tossing it into the dumpster near Cabot and La Paz Road in Laguna Hills, according to animal services.

The wounded cat, named Willow by MVAS staff, was discovered nearly 15 hours later, and just before the dumpster was scheduled for collection.

Willow is receiving treatment for extensive injuries at an animal hospital but is expected to recover, according to MVAS.