Q: We advised a visitor not to open the windows as our young cat may escape. She has visited us many times before and knows this very well. Nevertheless, this visitor opened the window, without our knowledge, and the cat went outside. After desperate searching, we found the cat dead and in a pitiful condition. She had been mauled and severely injured by a dog. The cat must have experienced great pain and suffering whilst being attacked by this dog. It was a sad scene. Whilst this entire outcome is on account of the visitors' negligence, could Allah Ta'ala take me to task? I know that Allah Ta'ala considers cruelty and negligence towards animals very severely, perhaps even more in my instance of an innocent cat. Should I make Taubah to Allah Ta'ala for a terrible crime I may have committed? Perhaps I was lax in not searching for the cat quickly enough or not applying my mind as to where she might be? Or that I had failed to emphasize enough on the visitor regarding the windows? I would not want Allah Ta'ala to change my cat into a fearsome beast that will similarly maul me in Jahannum. Allahumma Ajirni Minan Naar. Please guide me in this matter.
