but it doesn't work both ways, Lottie, hence my heroin claim. Just because people on heroin started on dope (or mother's milk, for that matter), it doesn't mean that everyone on dope is going to end up on heroin. Likewise, though anyone who mistreats humans may have done the same to animals, it doesn't mean everyone who mistreats animals will go on to mistreat humans.
Fortunately the law punishes you for what you do, not what you are. If this guy's caught he will be sentenced for mistreating a cat - not for being a cruel person who will undoubtedly end up being cruel to humans.