SEATTLE -- The man accused of brutally stabbing a cat that belongs to a South Seattle church has been charged.

Tracy A. Clark was charged Wednesday with first-degree animal cruelty for attacking Scat, the resident pet of the Cross Church & Discipleship Center.

Scat, who has been the pet therapy cat at the church at 1320 102nd Street Southwest for the past eight to 10 years, was found in the parking lot with several stab wounds, including a 7-inch gash on its side, according to the statement of probable cause. The feline also had three broken ribs and severe internal injuries.

Clark told deputies the cat attacked him first, forcing him to defend himself, the statement said. He said grabbed the cat by the throat and threw it against the wall. He also admitted to having stabbed Scat with his own knife.

Scat is in the intensive care unit at South Seattle Veterinary Hospital. Employee Lisa McCollough-Dutt said Scat was brought in in unbelievably poor shape.

"It makes me want to cry. Sheer horror...it's actually devastating to see a cat or anything brutally attacked," she said. "If they can do this to an animal, it makes you wonder what they can do to a human."

Clark, 47, said he had enrolled in rehabilitation at the church, which offers a full-time residential discipleship program for distressed men.

Another resident of the church told investigators Clark woke him up some time after he had gone to bed on Sunday night, and said he had "gutted the cat," the statement said.

A conviction for a felony animal abuse charge carries up to five years in prison.

Church members said when Scat first came to the church, he was very leery of people. But over time, he became more socialized and eventually grew into a lovable therapy cat.

Pasado's Safe Haven, a local non-profit animal rescue organization, has offered to cover all of Scat's medical expenses.