A Baltimore animal shelter is treating a cat with severe burns that shelter officials say was intentionally doused with lighter fluid and set on fire three weeks ago.

The cat, called Mittens, who had three kittens when she was injured, lost her ears and received third- and fourth-degree burns on her back and side, said Dr. Sherry Seibel, a veterinarian at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.

"She's healing really, really well," Seibel said. "She has a lot of new skin. And knock on wood — we've avoided serious infections, which you see with burns. And she's eating well and taking care of her kittens well."

Kevin Brown, a spokesman for Baltimore city police, confirmed Sunday that the department had received a report of a burned cat on Jan. 8 but was unable to immediately refer to the investigation file.

The alleged incident echoes the case of Phoenix, a young pit bull who was doused with a flammable liquid and ignited in West Baltimore in 2009. The dog later had to be euthanized. Twin brothers Travers and Tremayne Johnson are on trial for animal cruelty in that case.

According to shelter officials, who said they relied on police accounts, Mittens was confined in a milk crate, drenched with lighter fluid and set on fire in the 3300 block of Saint Ambrose Avenue in West Baltimore.

"Apparently she jumped out and ran around and doused the flame and came back to her kittens," Seibel said.

The cat is probably less than two years old, Seibel said. The veterinarian added that the cat seemed able to hear despite the damage to her ears and that it could take another month for her wounds to heal.

"She's doing so well," Seibel said. "I don't think she's going to need skin grafting or anything like that. But it's not going to be a simple process."