It's a story that's almost hard to believe, as reported by Le Parisien. A woman living in the town of Agde in southern France was ordered last January by the Béziers court to pay €1,250 (around £1,050) in damages.
The reason? Her cat called Rémi has been accused of causing damage at the neighbours' property. The ginger moggy allegedly left paw prints on freshly applied render whilst it was drying, is accused of urinating on a duvet, and of doing his business in the garden.
Towards a legal precedent?
Unfortunately, Rémi appears to have reoffended since his owner's conviction. She has been summoned to court again this coming December and could see the damages award increase.
Speaking to the newspaper, Dominique, Rémi's owner, says she doesn't understand this conviction as there is no "real evidence". "In the neighbourhood, there's another ginger cat, and the numerous photos that the neighbour himself provided show that many other cats have been through his garden", she explains.
This court ruling has raised concerns amongst animal welfare charities, including the SPA (French animal protection society). They fear this decision could set a legal precedent. "If this case were to set a precedent, there's no doubt we could see adoptions grind to a halt. Who would take on an adoption knowing they risk being ordered to pay penalties for their pet's movements? Nobody!" explains Guillaume Sanchez, the SPA's director general.
