It depends on how far along the alcoholism is...some people do a total Jekyll-and-Hyde thing and become total monsters. I have an Al-Anon tape where the woman describes how her insanely drunk husband shot the family dog in front of the kids.

It being an illness is NO excuse - he is accountable for not getting help which is widely and freely available.

I hope he feels tormented. And hope he truly turns a corner.

RIP poor little kitten.