If you don’t have the stomach for stories about animal cruelty, perhaps you should pass on reading this post.

Police are hunting a serial killer south of Miami, but this persons isn’t killing people — he’s mutilating and killing cats. Some local news outlets are referring to the feline felon as "the South Florida cat butcher." At least 12 felines are believed to have fallen victim to this sadistic person — although many put that number at 20, 30 or more. Wednesday was a particularly deadly day. Five cats were found dead yesterday alone in Palmetto and in southwest Miami-Dade counties. Police first said the victims were casualties of vicious dogs, but they now say there’s no way canines could be to blame.

Tommy, a black-and-white cat belonging to a six-year-old girl, was the latest victim. He was found dead in the yard. Parents Donna and Ronald Gleason told CNN that "part of his skin was missing underneath … and part of his legs … he was partially skinned."

A reward of up to $12,000 has been offered.

In the meantime, southern Florida residents are keeping their pets inside. Let’s hope this feline killer on the loose is caught soon, so area cats can roam free from danger!