Buffalo police said a traffic stop led to animal cruelty charges after they found a live cat "marinating" in oil and peppers in the trunk of a car.
Officers heard the cat meowing when they stopped 51-year-old Gary Korkuc of Cheektowaga to ticket him for running a stop sign Sunday night.
They said they checked the trunk and found four-year-old Navarro in a cage, his fur covered with oil, crushed red peppers and chili peppers.
Police said Korkuc told them he did it because Navarro was ill-tempered. Korkuc was charged with cruelty and released.
Police said he told them he was going to cook Navarro. But they say Korkuc also complained that the neutered male cat got pregnant after he was spayed.
Animal advocates have cleaned Navarro and put him up for adoption.
AP