Aurora police will hold a news conference on Wednesday to announce that they will no longer release details on the cat mutilation cases that have plagued the metro area because they believe that media coverage may actually provoke more mutilations.

SURVEY Do you think media coverage of the cat mutilations provokes more cases? Yes. Whatever sicko is doing this only wants to see his or her acts in the news and it may lead to more copycats. No. I think it's good that these cases are being reported in the media because this is the only way to remind pet owners to keep their cat indoors and to alert others to the seriousness of the situation. Results  |  Disclaimer

At the conference, police will also introduce the members of the multi-city task force created last month to crack the case. Officers will also explain how the public can help in the investigation, and how pet owners can keep their cats safe by keeping them indoors.

Four mutilated cats were discovered over the weekend, bringing the number to 40 cats discovered in Aurora, Denver and surrounding areas in the past year.

In some cases, the cat's carcass was left on the pet owner's property in an attempt to taunt the homeowners. In other cases, neighbors stumbled on the remains, which were left out on neighborhood fields and parks. Some of the animals were decapitated and gutted with surgical precision while others appear to have been gnawed by other animals, police said.

Whatever the case, pet owners fear that a serial cat killer is on the loose, and police aren't so sure that they're tracking down one person or a group of people. The task force recently hired a criminal profiler to compose a psychological profile of the type of person or persons who could commit such an act.

The Denver Dumb Friends League is offering a reward of at least $12,000 for information that leads to the capture and conviction of those responsible for the mutilations.

The Colorado penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals is up to 18 months in jail and a $100,000 fine.

Additional Resource:

Where To Report Animal Cruelty