WESTBROOK — Gorham police are investigating after an officer shot a stray cat he thought had rabies, but turned out to be healthy.

The cat is recovering at a Westbrook shelter from shattered front leg bones caused by pellets from the 16-gauge shotgun the officer used to shoot the cat last month.

The Portland Press Herald reports that the officer and an animal control officer responded to a neighborhood after getting reports that a cat bit and scratched a 7-year-old girl and appeared rabid.

After efforts to capture the feline failed, the officer fired.

The cat ran away but was caught four days later, and after a 10-day quarantine was determined to be rabies free.

Police are investigating to make sure proper protocol was followed.

Meanwhile, police are covering the cat’s shelter bills.