NEW JERSEY, NJ — A New Jersey repair shop owner says a complaint about his cats brought police and Animal Control to his business, but the visit ended with reassurance rather than concern. Leo Mastrolia, who runs Digital Doctor Repairs, shared video of the encounter and said someone falsely claimed the cats were being neglected.

The clip quickly drew wide attention online, but the moment at the center of it was simple: the cats were checked, the shop owner explained his routine, and the animal control worker said the animals looked healthy and well cared for. Mastrolia said the visit was upsetting at first, especially because he believes the complaint came from someone with whom he has already had a tense personal dispute.

How the animal control visit began

Mastrolia said the visit followed a call to Animal Control accusing him of mistreating his cats. In the video, he is shown speaking with a New Jersey police officer and explaining that the complaint was about the animals being left alone and neglected.

The TikTok clip begins around the 23-second mark with that conversation already underway. Mastrolia’s account suggests he was surprised by the accusation and wanted to show that the claim did not match what was happening at the shop. The officer told him that complaints have to be taken seriously and investigated, even when the person accused believes the report is unfair or unfounded.

The exchange set the tone for the rest of the visit. Rather than turning into a confrontation, it became a walk-through of the shop, the cats’ setup, and the owner’s daily routine.

Inside the repair shop and the cats' daily routine

Mastrolia welcomed the animal control worker inside and showed the basics of how his cats are cared for during the day. He pointed out an automatic feeder, a water fountain, and a litter box he said cost $800. He also introduced the two cats living in the shop.

A dog even greeted the visitors as they arrived, adding to the sense that the space was more like a busy, lived-in workspace than a neglected environment. Mastrolia said he is at the shop every day and described his schedule as Tuesday through Saturday, plus Sunday and Monday as well.

His point was straightforward: he was present, attentive, and not leaving the animals unattended for long stretches. He said the claim that the cats were abandoned over the weekend did not fit his actual routine.

Animal Control says the cats looked healthy

By the end of the visit, the animal control worker said he saw no sign that the cats were in poor condition. He told Mastrolia that the animals had healthy coats and that the food and water setup looked fine.

He also said it was clear to him that the cats were not neglected. That was the key moment of the encounter, because the inspection appeared to resolve the immediate concern that had brought authorities to the store in the first place.

Mastrolia’s video framed the visit as proof that the complaint had no basis. While the complaint itself may have been disruptive, the on-site check ended with the cats appearing safe, fed, and well looked after in the shop environment.

Why Mastrolia suspects his landlord

In the video, Mastrolia said he began wondering who might have made the complaint. He later suspected his landlord, pointing to a previous heated confrontation between them.

He referenced an earlier interaction in which the landlord allegedly said he wanted to kill him and break his head. That older dispute is part of why Mastrolia said he believed the person who contacted Animal Control was probably his landlord.

The police officer did not identify the person who made the complaint, and Mastrolia did not present proof of who called. Still, the tension from that earlier clash gave him a reason to think the report may have been personal rather than based on any real animal welfare issue.

The TikTok video quickly drew huge attention

Mastrolia posted the encounter on his TikTok account, where he already shares repair content and customer interactions. His page, Digital Doctor Repairs, has a strong following, and this particular clip spread fast.

Within less than a day, the video had 1.7 million views, 238,400 likes, and more than 1,300 comments. Many viewers focused on the cats themselves, especially after seeing how well the shop was set up for them.

The attention turned a local complaint into a much broader conversation about pet care, honesty, and what happens when someone makes a report that turns out not to match the facts on the ground.

Viewers rally around the shop cats

Most of the reactions were supportive of Mastrolia and amused by how quickly the inspection seemed to clear the cats. One commenter joked that the officer was finished once he saw a very healthy-looking cat. Another said the $800 litter box showed the cats were living better than many people.

Other viewers focused on the mystery of who filed the complaint and argued that false accusations should have consequences. Their comments reflected a sense that the report was not only wrong, but also unfair to someone clearly trying to provide for the animals.

For now, the best outcome for Mastrolia appears to be the simplest one: the cats stayed in place, the complaint did not lead to trouble, and the animal control worker left with no concerns about their care.

Real, uplifting stories from across America – GCHS Eagle's Eye.