What should I say to my friend about beating his cat?

My friend, and I were playing a game on ps4, and talking on our mics. At one point I heard rustling in the background. When he got back on the mic, he said "my cat was knocking stuff off the shelf. I got pissed off, and went to stop her". Shortly after that, I heard what sounded like cardboard boxes falling off a shelf. I said "I think I hear your cat again". He said "im beating her, now maybe she'll shut up". I just said "jerk", and he was like "oh okay". I really hope he was joking, but he usually says just kidding when he is, but I didnt hear the cat crying or anything in the background. Idk what to say to him. I was gonna talk to my therapist about it tommarow, but I can't get it off my mind. Oh, last Christmas he said his cat was playing with the Christmas tree and that he had to pop her on the butt, but I said he should spray her with some water instead. So surely if im not okay with him lightly boping her, then surely I wouldn't be okay with him beating her.