A former solicitor, Dr. Katherine Theodotou, 79, is pursuing legal action against the RSPCA and the Metropolitan Police, demanding the return of her disabled cat, Rita, whose body is currently held by the animal welfare charity. The cat died in RSPCA foster care earlier this month, following a police raid on Dr. Theodotou's London home in March.
Dr. Theodotou alleges that police used an axe to break down her door during the raid, which was conducted following a report of mistreatment. She insists she was the victim of a malicious report and that Rita was well-cared for at her home. The 17-month-old cat was born with disabilities affecting her hind legs and received regular medical support, according to Dr. Theodotou.
During the raid, officers seized Rita, and Dr. Theodotou, who was recovering from breast cancer surgery at the time, was reportedly pushed to the ground by police. The former solicitor, who was struck off the UK solicitors register in 2022 for dishonest statements made during an insurance application, runs an animal sanctuary near Hertford.
An earlier court hearing saw Dr. Theodotou unsuccessfully seek an injunction to prevent the RSPCA from euthanizing Rita. The RSPCA stated at the time that there were no plans to put the cat down and that Rita was flourishing in foster care. However, the RSPCA also claimed that a vet found Rita to be in an "extremely concerning" condition upon seizure, suggesting prolonged periods of inadequate hygiene and nursing care.
The legal battle over Rita's ownership was scheduled to go before magistrates, but the hearing was canceled due to the cat's sudden death. Rita's body was taken to the Royal Veterinary College and has since been frozen.
Dr. Theodotou has now taken her case back to the High Court, seeking Rita's remains for an independent post-mortem investigation. The RSPCA, however, wants to conduct its own post-mortem to gather evidence regarding the circumstances of the cat's death.
Mr. Justice Kimblin, presiding over the recent hearing, refused to order the immediate handover of Rita's body. Instead, he mandated a jointly conducted post-mortem. This process will involve a veterinarian from the RSPCA and an independent vet chosen by Dr. Theodotou. The court ordered that Rita's body not be disposed of, and no post-mortem conducted, until the RSPCA provides notification of the intended date and invites Dr. Theodotou's chosen veterinarian to attend. This arrangement aims to allow both parties to obtain the information they seek concerning the animal's death, after which Rita's remains will be returned to Dr. Theodotou.