RSPCA branded 'Nazis' as pensioner's cat dies after being seized in police raid

The RSPCA has been compared to the Nazis by a pensioner after her cat was seized in a police raid and died.

Katherine Theodotou, 79, has won the right to have an independent expert assess her beloved pet Rita's cause of death after it died in foster care.

She was already embroiled in a legal battle with both the Metropolitan Police and Britain's leading animal charity after officers captured her 17-month-old pet.

Mrs Theodotou, who runs an animal sanctuary near Hereford, was set to have her case heard by magistrates.

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But two days before the hearing, Rita suddenly and unexpectedly died in RSPCA foster care.

At the High Court, Mr Justice Kimblin refused to order the cat's body returned to the pensioner, but did allow for a post-mortem examination involving an RSPCA vet and an independent specialist.

She told The Times: "The police and RSPCA have behaved like a bunch of Nazis. I've never seen any such behaviour towards an elderly woman."

In court, the sanctuary owner slammed the animal charity as a "strange organisation that is run by odd women who dress in military-style uniforms".

"I'm going to start a campaign for its abolition," she added.

Police officers and the RSPCA raided the sanctuary over a report Rita was being mistreated, which Mrs Theodotou, a former human rights lawyer, said was maliciously placed.

RSPCA lawyers insist the charity acted in Rita's best interests after receiving a report from vets indicating the cat had "deteriorated" under her care.

The pensioner claimed to have been "pushed violently to the ground" during the raid by six police officers and two RSPCA officials.

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Rita was born with a disability which meant she could not properly move her back legs and also suffered from occasional bladder infections, the court previously heard.

Mrs Theodotou has battled in the High Court for the RSPCA to return her cat's body so she could carry out her own post-mortem, but the animal charity refused the request.

She told the court: "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. I’m entitled to have a post-mortem myself. I have very competent doctors."

Mark Townsend, the RSPCA's barrister, said the cat was under the charity's "ultimate care" and needed to investigate the death itself.

Mr Justice Kimblin said the RSPCA had a right under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act to investigate a death, but Mrs Theodotou is entitled to receive the cat's body as her owner.

Mr Townsend previously told the court the cat's condition was "extremely concerning" and was being treated at a veterinary hospital before being placed in foster care.

Lawyer for Mrs Theodotou said Rita had received regular medical support and was "well cared for".

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