A West Hampton Dunes man is accused of drowning his mother's cat.

The Suffolk SPCA says Michael Moskowitz, who was arrested on Sunday, killed his mother's cat, Bonnie, in Moriches Bay in June.

Investigators say Moskowitz did not want to spend money to properly euthanize the animal, so he decided to kill it himself by drowning it off the dock near his home.

Volunteers cleaning up the beach on Gull Island found a carrier containing a decomposed cat washed ashore in September. Investigators have not said how they linked the cat and carrier to Moskowitz.

Moskowitz is charged with animal cruelty, a felony. He appeared in court Monday and was released on $2,500 bail. If convicted, he could serve up to two years in prison.