Yes, you can go to jail for killing a cat. Depending on the circumstances, you could be charged with animal cruelty or even murder. If the cat was killed maliciously and without justification, you could face serious penalties. Animal cruelty laws vary from state to state, but in most states, killing a cat without a good reason is a felony offense. In some states, like California, it’s also illegal to mutilate a cat’s body after death. So if you killed a cat and then disposed of the body in an egregious way, you could be facing multiple charges. If the cat belonged to someone else and you killed it without their permission, you could also be charged with theft or vandalism.
If the cat was killed accidentally, or if there was justification for its death (e.g., self-defense), then you probably won’t be charged with any crime. However, even in these cases, it’s always best to consult with an attorney before taking any action that could result in the death of an animal.