A man who choked a tiny kitten so hard the cat's eyes bulged out and a retina nearly detached has been banned from owning a pet until a court orders otherwise.
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Mahmoud Ammouche will have a three-month suspended sentence hanging over his head for the next year after pleading guilty to animal cruelty.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard the 21-year-old came home from a bad day at work and took his anger out on Freddie the kitten.
The man's lawyer said his client's actions were an overreaction to being bitten by the animal.
Magistrate Bernadette Boss, herself a reservist, said she thought the 21-year-old's actions made him a "very unsuitable person to be in the Army Reserve".
"A person who can engage in this kind of conduct in response to being clawed by a small kitten clearly demonstrates a lack of self control that makes one quite concerned you will ever be put near a weapon such as a personal firearm," Dr Boss said.
The prosecutor told the court the attack left the animal with permanent injuries, although the defence pointed out that wasn't mentioned in the statement of facts.
The RSPCA were contacted in the aftermath of the incident, and Freddie was taken into their care, where he has remained since.
Today, Dr Boss made a forfeiture order preventing Ammouche regaining custody of the cat, which will allow the RSPCA to begin looking for a new home for the kitten.
The man's lawyer pointed to his client's youth, remorse and lack of a criminal history as mitigating factors, and asked for a non-conviction order.
But Dr Boss described the suggestion as "inconceivable".
"Other than killing the animal how much more serious could it be," she asked.
"I suppose prolonged torture."
The magistrate made an order banning Ammouche from keeping a pet until a court rules otherwise.
Under the conditions of his good-behaviour order he will have to undergo anger management programs if directed by Corrective Services staff.
An RSPCA ACT spokeswoman said the organisation welcomed today's ruling, and confirmed Freddie would be re-homed.
"We are very pleased with the magistrate's findings. Cruelty to animals should not be tolerated, it is unacceptable and as a society we should take it very seriously," the spokeswoman said.
"Freddie has been in our care for some time now and we are grateful that he now has the opportunity to find a wonderful new home."
