A six-year-old cat found with severe head trauma in Gatineau, Que., earlier this month is being called the worst potential case of animal cruelty investigated by the Outaouais SPCA in 20 years, the organization says.

Daniel Rheault and Diane Plouffe owned Mignonne for six years. (CBC News) Mignonne the cat was let out of its home in northeast Gatineau the night of July 16 by its owners, Daniel Rheault and Diane Plouffe, as was customary.

The cat normally returned home the next day by about 7 a.m. but didn't show up on the 17th.

Then, at about 12:30 p.m., the Outaouais SPCA called the couple to inform them that Mignonne had been found on a lawn on nearby Hillcrest Street with severe head injuries, and that the cat was being taken to the SPCA for treatment.

"They told me not to come over because it was too pathetic to see, but I went there just the same. Even when I got there they didn't want me to see her. I insisted because she was still conscious," Rheault said.

"Her injuries were undescribable. It's very hard; I don't even want to see the pictures anymore. ... The face injuries were very hard to see, very, very hard."

Most likely an act of violence, SPCA says

France Dubois, executive director of the Outaouais SPCA, says the cat was found on a lawn not far from its home on July 17. (CBC News) The cat had received some kind of blow to the head that broke and dislocated its jaw and disfigured its face. The rest of its body was unharmed.

Rheault said he was able to comfort the cat briefly before it was euthanized.

The Outaouais SPCA's executive director, France Dubois, said the injuries "most likely" resulted from an act of violence, not an accident.

"In 20 years of experience we've see lots of injured animals ... but we've never seen a cat in such bad shape that was still alive," Dubois added.

The Outaouais SPCA continues to investigate and is asking anyone with information to come forward.