By the beat-up one, do you mean the one with pellets in his front paw?

Considering what sort of person Katie's past-neighbor is, it wouldn't surprise me if she came back and got the cats just to spite Katie, certainly not because she wants them (except as rat catchers or target practice for her son!)

Katie must be extremely distressed about this. What a pity none of us live close enough to help her more directly and immediately. Having a friend to go out and hunt for the cats with would be so much better than going out on her own, and probably wondering what she will find.