Kitten Found Stuffed in Plastic Sandwich Container Wrapped in Duct Tape During Utah Traffic Stop

A kitten was found stuffed in a plastic sandwich container wrapped in duct tape during a traffic stop by police earlier this week. Now, the animal clinic said she is expected to recover.

Athena, a 6-week-old Siamese kitten, was brought to Angel Paws Veterinary Services on Monday in poor condition after being found by police during a traffic stop.

Dr. Jessica Love, the clinic's medical director, said that Athena suffered head trauma, singed fur, bruising on her temple and an eye injury.

“Once we got word that there were drugs in the car, we did a urinary test on her for various drugs, and she came up positive for methamphetamine,” Love told KTVX. “We determined that although she was exposed, she wasn’t showing any sign of intoxication.”

Love said she was initially concerned that the kitten would not make it, but she now believes that her only concern for Athena is her eyes. She told KSL.com that she thinks Athena will be able to have a good quality of life, but the clinic will not know how well the kitten's eyes will be able to function for some time.

Justin Dale Epperson, 45, and Emily Maureen Allred, 41, were arrested after Cottonwood Heights police initially suspected the pair of illegally camping Monday. A police booking affidavit stated that they were “slumped over the steering wheel.”

As the officers were questioning Epperson and Allred at around 2 a.m., who they noted were covered in cat hair, they heard a “meow” coming from the back of the vehicle, as reported by KSL.com.

Police said they discovered Athena in a plastic, sandwich-sized container wrapped in duct tape. The kitten’s head was reportedly sticking out of the container, but its body was trapped inside and covered in feces.

Methamphetamine and fentanyl were also allegedly found in the vehicle, with police noting that the duo were repeat offenders. The pair were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of torture of a companion animal and drug possession.