Austin Woman Charged with 13 Counts of Animal Cruelty for Abandoning 15 Cats in South Austin Apartment

Austin Police Department (APD) has charged 27-year-old Nayzak Najm with 13 Class A misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after 15 cats were found abandoned in her former South Austin apartment, with two deceased and one euthanized due to critical condition.

The charges stem from a February 5, 2026, 911 call from a resident reporting multiple malnourished cats living in unsanitary and unsafe conditions at an apartment complex on South First Street. APD’s Animal Cruelty Unit investigated and confirmed that Najm had vacated the unit in mid-January 2026 after turning in her keys, with the lease officially expiring on January 31, 2026.

Apartment management entered the unit to begin restoration work following prior flooding concerns and discovered the animals inside. Officers described conditions consistent with a hoarding environment, including significant debris, standing water, and widespread animal waste.

Of the 15 cats found, 12 were alive but in varying states of malnourishment. One cat was in critical condition and transported to an emergency veterinary clinic, where euthanasia was recommended. Two additional cats were found deceased inside the unit. Evidence at the scene indicated that surviving animals had partially consumed the remains of the deceased cats, though the cause of death for those two could not be determined.

Animal Control removed the surviving cats from the apartment and transported them for evaluation and care. The investigation determined that Najm had abandoned the animals when she vacated the apartment, leaving them without adequate food, water, or care.

Najm faces 13 counts of Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals (Abandonment), each classified as a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law. No further details regarding court proceedings or potential penalties have been released by authorities at this time.