WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Prison officials in New Zealand said a prisoner nearing the end of his sentence for rape and murder stabbed another prisoner for frightening his cat.

Corrections Association President Beven Hanlon said the attacker was living with the victim in a minimum security self-care unit at Rimutaka Prison in Wellington that was designed to help prepare long-term prisoners for release, The Dominion Post reported Thursday.


Hanlon said the victim entered the shared living room in the unit Dec. 26, causing the cat to flee. The attacker stabbed the other man six times in the neck and likely would have killed him had a third prisoner not intervened, Hanlon said.

"That prisoner is lucky to be alive," Hanlon said. The victim was taken to Hutt Hospital and returned to the prison Dec. 28.

Tony Howe, acting southern assistant regional manager for the Corrections Association, said the attack was carried out with a "makeshift weapon."

Howe said police and corrections officials are investigating the incident and the attacker has been moved to a high security area.