This is awful and unfortunately once she removed the cat from the Ex's house it became a he said she said situation. At the point she saw the cat she should have made an excuse to go to the bathroom or her car and called the Animal officer in that area. 911 would have connected her to them. It is a very hard decission to make when you have to leave the cat as it is. It is our strongest desire to get them to proper help as fast as possible. Unfortunately doing so does not sound like it will help save the cat and the abuser will now get away with it. If the cat was part of a divorce settlement ownership should have been transfered to the ex. No matter the owner of record animal officers charge the person in whose charge the abused animal is in.