A Colorado man shot a cat with a rifle and sent e-mails to relatives to tell them he did it "to get even" with his wife.

Longmont police say they arrested 50-year-old Paul John Vickers Wednesday after his wife's sister told police of the e-mail in which Vickers wrote about killing "Bootsie." Police Sergeant Tim Lewis says the married couple was involved in a long-running argument and Vickers was angry at his wife.

Police found the cat's body in a pond near where Vickers lives and say "Bootsie" was shot while in the couple's basement.

Vickers is being held at the Boulder County Jail on $25,000 bond. He faces charges of felony animal abuse, domestic violence and harassment.