A court in Southern France has ordered a woman to pay a fine of roughly €1250 (about $1,400) because of her “criminal” cat. The pet had repeatedly wandered onto a neighbor’s property and left messes behind. However, now that this ruling has come to the public’s attention, it has drawn criticism. Various animal welfare groups are against such a ruling because no one can control cats.
A woman faces a fine due to her cat damaging her neighbor’s property
Local French authorities have reported that a woman was fined due to her white and ginger tabby cat called Rémi.
According to La Dépêche, a neighbor had accused the cat of “urinating on a duvet, defecating in the garden, and leaving paw prints on stucco.” When this case was taken to court, the judge found the owner of the cat, Dominique Valdès, accountable.
Consequently, the court ordered Valdès to pay €1250 as a fine on January 17, 2025. The court had even ordered a penalty of an additional €30. It is for every future time that Rémi crosses the fence onto the neighbor’s land. As of right now, a follow-up hearing will take place in December.
Although this could bring the “cat fine” to €2000, it will also have an increased fee of €50 per repeat offense, the outlet suggests.
As for Dominique Valdès, who is financially liable amidst this verdict, she feels like the whole situation is shocking and unfair. She said, “It’s absurd. It’s grotesque. It’s heartbreaking. I question the justice system. The law is forcing me to be abusive, in fact. Because a cat isn’t meant to be locked up.” (via TFI)
Valdès argued that keeping a cat indoors at all times is cruel. Moreover, the court’s decision has effectively forced her to confine Rémi. In another statement, Valdès revealed feeling blindsided by the ruling. She told Le Parisien, “When I learned of the conviction, it was like being hit over the head.”
Also, Valdès revealed that the neighbor’s long court file offered no clear proof that Rémi was the one responsible for the property damage.
Guillaume Sanchez, the General Manager of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, added, “This isn’t just a minor incident. It’s a much more serious matter. Domestic cats, especially when kept indoors, have a natural need to explore their surroundings. If this procedure were to set a precedent, it would undoubtedly lead to a significant slowdown in adoptions.”
