EVANSVILLE, Ind. — An Evansville man was booked into jail in the early morning hours Sunday after he allegedly sent a video of himself strangling a cat to a family member.

A man called dispatchers saying he received the video from 29-year-old Zackary Nichols, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Evansville Police Department.

Officers went to Nichols' house in the 3000 block of Vermont Avenue and told him a family member asked for a welfare check.

According to the affidavit, he immediately knew who had spoken to authorities and said that man probably told police Nichols choked the cats.

Nichols gave officers his cell phone and allowed them to read his text conversation with the man.

One text from Nichols to the man reportedly read, "Because she cheated on me with you the cats are no longer alive."

The video appeared nearby in the conversation. According to the affidavit, it shows a hand clamped around a cat's neck. A voice in the background says, "You think I am f*cking around. You really think I am f*cking around. I'll f*cking murder this g*d*mn cat. F*ck you, you little b*tch."

The video then shows the cat being slammed onto a couch.

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Nichols reportedly admitted to strangling and throwing the cat, but he told police it was okay since the cat wasn't harmed. He said he didn't think he could be arrested because the animal wasn't injured.

He was arrested and booked into Vanderburgh County's jail around 1:15 a.m. Sunday on a preliminary charge of animal cruelty. He was released later that day after posting $100 bond. An initial court hearing is scheduled for Monday at 1:15 p.m.

Animal Control took the cat, but police wrote in the affidavit they didn't know the animal's condition. Animal Control didn't immediately know either when the Courier & Press reached out Monday morning.

The other six cats in the house were given to their owner, Nichols' fiancée.

Police later spoke to the family member who received the video, according to the affidavit. Nichols allegedly believed his fiancée was cheating on him with that man.

The man told police he had kids with Nichols' fiancée, but they no longer have a relationship.

Previously, Nichols reportedly sent him threatening messages, saying he wanted to kill him and his family.

The man said he didn't go to police at that time because he thought Nichols was just stressed after his father's recent death. He said he felt like he had to involve police after receiving the video.