Moment police and RSPCA batter down 79-year-old's front door to seize her disabled cat that later died in foster care after the raid

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:18, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 10:18, 31 July 2026 Police and RSPCA officials battered down a 79-year-old former lawyer's front door to seize her disabled cat, which later died in foster care, video footage shows. Dr Katherine Theodotou is suing the charity and Met Police, after officers raided her London home and seized her 17-month-old black and white cat Rita in March, following a report that she was being mistreated. The former solicitor, who was struck from the solicitors register in 2022 for 'dishonesty', claims she was the victim of a 'malicious' report leading to a warrant being issued and Rita taken away. Dr Theodotou, who was suing for her pet's return plus damages relating to how she was removed, was informed last week that Rita had suddenly died in RSPCA foster care, with the battle over her ownership turning into a squabble over her remains. After a short hearing at the High Court last week, Mr Justice Kimblin ordered a jointly conducted post-mortem to be carried out involving both an RSPCA vet and an independent one chosen by Dr Theodotou, who now runs an animal sanctuary near Hertford. Now video footage has emerged showing the moment police broke into her property. An officer was seen using heavy equipment to batter in the door whilst several others, alongside RSPCA officials holding a cat carrying cage, stand by, ready to seize Rita. It took 12 hits with the Met's battering ram for the door to open, the footage shows. At a previous hearing, RSPCA lawyers said Rita was assessed after being seized as being in an 'extremely concerning' condition, suggestive of 'prolonged inadequate hygiene, nursing care, and monitoring within the home environment'.  Police and RSPCA officials battered down a 79-year-old former lawyer's front door to seize her disabled cat, which later died in foster care, video footage shows Dr Katherine Theodotou, 79, is suing the RSPCA and Met Police after officers used an axe to raid her London home and seize her 17-month-old black and white cat Rita in March Rita, who was born disabled, died suddenly while in RSPCA foster care earlier this month The RSPCA and police are defending the claims against them, with Met lawyers saying officers merely 'lawfully executed a warrant of entry' to allow the charity to take Rita. Dr Theodotou was born and studied in Cyprus before moving to the UK where she and her Islington-based law firm Highgate Hill solicitors won a series of awards, including accolades for human rights lawyer of the year and UK female of the year in probate law. However she was struck off the UK solicitors register in 2022, after she was found to have made 'dishonest' statements while applying for professional insurance. She is also the founder and honorary director of the Greek school of Islington and runs an animal sanctuary at Woodcock Lodge Farm, near Hertford. In the earlier hearing, the court heard that Rita was born disabled and could not properly move her back legs and by reason of this suffered from occasional infections in her bladder. Dr Theodotou insists that Rita was being well-cared for at her home, receiving regular medical support and steadily learning to walk on all four legs. However, following what she claims was 'a malicious report to the RSPCA regarding the welfare of Rita', a warrant was obtained by the charity from a magistrates court, giving them power to raid her property with the assistance of the police and seize the disputed cat. Her barrister, Liam Wells, said Dr Theodotou was at home recovering from recent breast cancer surgery when the RSPCA suddenly attended her home with six officers from the Met Police. 'Dr Theodotou did not understand the reasons for the attendance of so many uniformed police officers at the property and did not wish to allow them access,' he said. 'The officers of the Metropolitan Police proceeded to break down the front door to the property. A court was told Dr Theodotou originally 'did not want to provide [police] access' to her property, as she sued them over the raid Dr Theodotou insisted that Rita was being well-cared for at her home, receiving regular medical support and steadily learning to walk on all four legs Dr Theodotou originally sued over the raid on her home, which saw Met Police officers attend and force entry with an axe 'Dr Theodotou was seeking to open the door to the private dwelling to avoid the police officers from breaking it down when the police officers pushed her violently to the ground, making forceful contact with her wounded chest. 'The officers of the RSPCA found Rita and removed her from the property against the will of Dr Theodotou.' Before Mrs Justice Obi earlier this month, lawyers for Dr Theodotou had asked for an emergency injunction to ward off any danger of her cat being put down before the case comes to trial. But the RSPCA – which insisted it has done nothing wrong in relation to Rita – said there was no plan to euthanise the cat, which was by then 'flourishing' with foster carers. Mrs Justice Obi declined to grant the injunction after finding no 'real or imminent risk of euthanasia' and with a magistrates court to rule on the RSPCA's bid to take full ownership of Rita within days. But the magistrates' court hearing was cancelled at the last minute after the sudden and unexpected death of Rita while in the custody of the RSPCA. Her body was taken to the Royal Veterinary College, where it has since been frozen, pending a post-mortem. Dr Theodotou, representing herself, in court last week said: 'I'm entitled to her body or what is left of her body. She is my cat, my darling cat. I love this animal very much. 'I spent a lot of time in caring for her. There was no need to come with six police officers to my house and break down the door.' Giving judgment on the application, Mr Justice Kimblin said the RSPCA has a right under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act to investigate a death, but that Dr Theodotou also has rights as her owner. 'She makes it very clear she is attached to the cat and wishes it to be returned to her so that she may have undertaken a post-mortem by a veterinary surgeon of her choosing and for her to deal with the cat's body in the way she sees fit,' he said. 'It seems to me the appropriate resolution in this case is for there to be an order that there be no disposal of the body of Rita the cat, nor a post-mortem unless and until the RSPCA has provided notification of the intended date and an invitation for a veterinary surgeon instructed by the claimant to attend jointly with the RSPCA to undertake the post-mortem,' he said. 'In that way both the claimant and the RSPCA have the opportunity to obtain the information they both seek in respect of the animal's death. 'Thereafter the remains of Rita the cat can be returned to the claimant.' Dr Theodotou's original case was for Rita's return, but also damages for harassment and negligence against the RSPCA and for assault, battery, trespass and negligence against the Met Police. Met barrister Rachael Hyde said police had attended the house and 'lawfully executed a warrant of entry' to collect the cat due to 'welfare concerns', with the Met having no further involvement.