I had suspected it was something related to cars, but in my knowledge (none), I couldn't figure out how a tail burned off + limp could happen. Given I'm in a country that casually and happily tortures dogs by throwing them, alive and well, into a burning stove as their feet melt off (because the adrenaline makes them taste better obviously), I also suspected human maliciousness.

But yeah I'm sorry to hear the pain of your cat but it's great it's getting along fine. I hope in the end someone did capture this one and it's living happily but... who knows.