Well I feel that the owner is just as much at fault. The cat should have been collared and this would not have happened. Everyone says the cat was friendly. Get a friendly cat in a trap and it will freak out too. There is a law in New Hanover county......was the cat even current on his rabies shot or even registered with NH Animal Control. Yes I feel for the owner. I myself take care of a colony of cats....and with the economy the way it is ...I am constantly finding friendly cats that were dumped due to people losing there jobs or they just don't want them anymore. Friends of feline does a fantastic job helping this community. I wish they had a program/organization that did this in Brunswick county. The animals just run loose and constantly add to the population explosion.
If you want your animal to live longer keep it in. I have a few cats and I would never put them as a outside cat. Most people just don't want to clean a litter box.