Judge orders RSPCA to let woman view cat that died in care
A 79-year-old former lawyer, Dr Katherine Theodotou, is suing the RSPCA and Metropolitan Police for £500,000 after they seized her disabled cat, Rita, in March following an alleged mistreatment report. The cat died in RSPCA foster care in July, and the case has now escalated into a legal dispute over whether Dr Theodotou can view her pet's body before its autopsy. A High Court judge has ordered the RSPCA to facilitate this final viewing, whilst urging both parties to settle what he described as a regrettable situation that risks consuming vast legal costs.
The 17-month-old black and white cat was born with a disability affecting its hind legs and suffered occasional bladder infections, which Dr Theodotou maintained she was managing with proper medical care. Police officers broke down her Islington home door with a battering ram—striking it 12 times—whilst she was recovering from breast cancer surgery and did not initially wish to grant entry. The RSPCA claimed Rita was found in an "extremely concerning" condition suggesting poor hygiene and care, whilst Dr Theodotou denied the allegations and stated the cat was learning to walk on all four legs. Judge Cotter remarked it was "remarkable" that an animal lover and an animal welfare charity had reached such an impasse, noting the irony of their opposing positions.
- 79-year-old denied access to her disabled cat's body after RSPCA and police seized it; cat later died in care
- Judge orders RSPCA to allow final viewing before autopsy, urges £500,000 compensation case to settle
- Dispute centres on whether cat was neglected or receiving proper medical care for its disability
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “RSPCA told to let 79-year-old woman see body of her disabled cat after it died in foster care following police raid to ‘rescue it’ – as she sues charity for £500,000”.