GODFREY, Ill. — A woman in Illinois faces animal cruelty charges after admitting to killing a cat and four kittens because her grandchildren would not clean their rooms, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office told KTVI.

A deputy was called to a home in the 5000 block of W. Victor Drive just after 7 p.m. Monday in reference to a report of animal cruelty.

The deputy spoke with a teenager, who said she found her dead cat in the family freezer.

The deputy asked the child what happened to the cat, at which point the child’s grandmother, 71-year-old Josephine Bell, said she killed the cat and four kittens.

Bell said she had told her grandchildren that if they did not clean their rooms they would lose all their animals.

She told the deputy she didn’t feel like she should have to take care of the cat and kittens, so she killed them all with a hammer.

Bell said the kittens had been thrown away and the deputy could not locate them, Dixon said.

An officer with Godfrey Animal Control was summoned and retrieved the dead cat.

Meanwhile, Bell was arrested and charged with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

She remains in custody at Madison County Jail on $15,000 bond.