MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A New Hampshire man has been charged with a felony after he first told police that his cat had accidentally shot itself.

Nicholas Goroff, 24, told officers the cat had knocked over a shotgun, causing it to fire. But beer cans in his apartment and the smell of alcohol on his breath, caused police to question his story.

Eventually, he told police he had pulled the hammer back on the gun and while attempting to release it his thumb slipped and the gun fired. A round hit the cat.

The cat had to be euthanized and Goroff faces charges of felony reckless conduct.

Police said they found a hole from the slug in the floor of Goroff's apartment. They said the round traveled in the direction of another apartment in the building, putting others at risk.

Goroff was arraigned in Manchester District Court on Friday and faces another court hearing Aug. 23.