An 18-year-old Garland man faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly throwing a cat into a fire.

Elijah J. Cottrell waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday before District Judge Laura Bauer.

He faces two charges — a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals as well as a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.

Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched for a report of an incident involving a cat that allegedly occurred at a Fiddlersgreen Road address in Eldred Twp.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, troopers identified two individuals who reported to be with Cotterll at the address between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Nov. 4.

They told troopers that “they were having a fire and a cat was rubbing on Elijah Cottrell” and that Cottrell “picked up the cat by the neck and threw it into the middle of a burning fire.”

Troopers report the cat was thrown 25 feet.

The individuals, the affidavit states, showed pictures of the cat to police, who “observed burns on the cat’s paws and face. The cat’s fur also appeared to have been burned. The cat’s whiskers (were) burned off its face and its nose was blackened.”

Police were told that the cat had been taken to an animal hospital and were also shown messages between one of the individuals and Cottress regarding payment of vet bills. “The conversation shows,” the affidavit alleges, “Cottrell respond that he would pay the bill once he starts his new job.”