A 38-year-old Floreat man was fined $4000 today after pleading guilty to trapping and confining a pet cat in an esky for approximately ten hours, likely causing the cat's "long, slow, painful" death.
Perth Magistrates Court heard RSPCA WA received a cruelty report from a City of Nedlands ranger in March 2023 in relation to the deceased cat who had been confined for an extended period of time.
The offender called the rangers at 4.56pm on 29 March to request they attend his property to collect a cat he had captured earlier that day which was now deceased. He said the cat was likely a feral stray and that he had put it in an esky.
He advised he had put the cat in the esky at 7am and had removed the drain hole of the esky to allow for air flow. He also said he had not put any water in the esky for the cat. When asked why he put the cat in the esky he said he was worried it was going to scratch him or his children and that the cat appeared aggressive as it was disturbing his rabbits.
The ranger attended the property to scan the cat's microchip. They confirmed he was someone's pet and his name was Jamison, and called the owners to advise them. Jamison's body was transported to Swanbourne Veterinary Hospital and later surrendered to RSPCA WA at the request of his owners.
An RSPCA WA vet said Jamison likely died due to suffering from hypoxia and hypercapnia which were exacerbated by increased humidity from water vapour. Stress and fear would have increased metabolism, heat and carbon dioxide production, as well as increase oxygen requirements.
In sentencing, Deputy Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Woods said once the cat was in the esky, he "had no chance of surviving".
Magistrate Woods also told the offender "there were a number of things (he) could have done" to get the cat away from his property. She said Jamison was "vulnerable" and "…suffered, no doubt, a lot of pain and distress".
"…deliberately you put it in the box (and the) reality is it was a long, slow, painful death for the cat," she said.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said, "It is beyond comprehension to believe that a person could confine a cat in an esky and expect it to still be alive ten hours later".
"Magistrate Woods clearly agreed that this was a deliberate and cruel act. Our hearts go out to Jamison's family. Even if the offender thought Jamison was stray, there is never an excuse to be deliberately cruel to an animal, in this case likely causing a slow and terrifying death."
The offender was sentenced under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(b)(ii) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It was found while he was a person in charge of Jamison, the cat was confined a manner that caused, or was likely to cause, him unnecessary harm. In addition to the fine, the offender will also pay $2,189 in costs. He was granted a spent conviction order. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.
