PORTLAND, Ore. – Five cats were found mutilated and killed in downtown Portland, authorities said Monday.

The cats were found in and around the Portland State University campus.

"These cats were ruthlessly attacked and killed by someone with utter disregard for the pain they inflicted. It's difficult to imagine how someone could do this to an animal," said Dr. Kris Otteman, OHS director of shelter medicine.

The most recent incident occurred May 29th, when the body of an adult male cat was discovered.

An autopsy confirmed that the wounds suffered by the pet were consistent with those inflicted on four kittens whose bodies were found in late April.

The owners of the cats are not known at this time. The cat found on May 29th was a black and white adult male cat that had been neutered, indicating that it was a pet, not a stray.