FORMER SOLICITOR SUES RSPCA AND MET POLICE OVER CAT SEIZURE

Dr Katherine Theodotou, a former solicitor, is suing the RSPCA and the Metropolitan Police for £500,000 in compensation over the seizure of her cat, Rita. Police officers smashed down the front door of her London home in March and removed the 17-month-old black-and-white cat after the RSPCA received a report alleging she was being mistreated. Dr Theodotou has said the report was "malicious". Rita was placed into RSPCA foster care, and in July it emerged she had died there. The dispute has since widened into a fight over access to Rita's body.

Dr Theodotou also runs an animal sanctuary near Hertford. The RSPCA, a charity that investigates animal welfare complaints across England and Wales, obtained the warrant used in the raid. Rita has been described in reports as having had a disability. Dr Theodotou disputes the grounds for the warrant, saying the report to the RSPCA was false. Mr Justice Cotter is overseeing the High Court case.

Mr Justice Cotter urged the RSPCA to let Dr Theodotou see Rita's body once more before a post-mortem examination is carried out to establish the cause of death, telling the hearing: "I think that should be facilitated.... All she wants to do is see her cat." He also urged both sides to settle the dispute rather than proceed to a costly trial, warning that "a very large amount of money will be spent" if the case continued. The judge described it as "remarkable from an objective perspective" that a claimant who loves and cares for animals and a charity dedicated to animal welfare had ended up in this position. He added that "it is very unfortunate we are where we are."