RSPCA told to let woman see body of cat as she sues charity for £500k

DAILYMAIL • 1h ago

By JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER 12:42 29 Sep 2026, updated 12:52 29 Sep 2026

The RSPCA has been told to allow a former lawyer to see her disabled cat’s body for a final time before an autopsy after police smashed down her door to seize the ‘beloved’ pet.

Dr Katherine Theodotou, 79, is claiming £500,000 in compensation from the animal protection charity and the Metropolitan Police after she said a ‘malicious report’ led to their seizure of her cat, Rita, in March.

Officers broke down Dr Theodotou’s door in March after a report saying the 17-month-old black and white cat was being mistreated.

Rita then died in RSPCA foster care in July and the case progressed to a fight over her body.

A court heard she was born disabled and could not properly move her back legs, leading to occasional bladder infections.

Yesterday Mr Justice Cotter urged the RSPCA to allow the former solicitor, who also runs an animal sanctuary in Hertfordshire, to see her pet’s body before its autopsy.

The judge said: ‘I think that should be facilitated….All she wants to do is see her cat.’

And he urged both sides to settle the case, saying: ‘I want some cooperation. It is very unfortunate we are where we are.

‘It’s remarkable from an objective perspective that a claimant who loves and cares for animals and a charity designed to ensure the welfare of animals find themselves in this position.

‘If this matter progresses, a very large amount of money will be spent. I would urge the parties to try and see if some sort of resolution can be reached.’

Video showed officers battering Dr Theodotou’s door in March, hitting it 12 times with a battering ram before it broke.

At a court hearing after Rita’s seizure, RSPCA lawyers said the cat was found in an ‘extremely concerning’ condition which suggested ‘prolonged inadequate hygiene, nursing care, and monitoring within the home environment’.

And in July the High Court ordered Rita’s post-mortem to be carried out both by an RSPCA vet and an independent practitioner chosen by Dr Theodotou.

Struck off the solicitors register in 2022 for ‘dishonesty’, the former lawyer was born and studied in Cyprus before moving to Britain.

She and her Islington-based law firm Highgate Hill solicitors won awards including human rights lawyer of the year and UK female of the year in probate law.

But she was struck off the roll four years ago after being 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.

Her barrister, Liam Wells, said in July Dr Theodotou was at home recovering from breast cancer surgery when the RSPCA arrived with six Met Police officers.

‘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.

‘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.’

In July the cat owner’s lawyers asked for an emergency injunction to stop Rita being put down before the case came to trial.

But the RSPCA, which insisted it had done nothing wrong, said there was no plan for euthanasia and Rita was ‘flourishing’ with foster carers.

The judge did not grant the injunction as a magistrates court hearing to rule on the agency’s bid for full ownership of the cat was due within days.

But before magistrates could rule on the issue, Rita died and was taken to the Royal Veterinary College, where her body was frozen awaiting a post-mortem.

Dr Theodotou, representing herself, said in July: ‘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 caring for her. There was no need to come with six police officers to my house and break down the door.’

Dr Theodotou originally took legal action to win Rita’s return and claim damages for harassment and negligence against the RSPCA and for assault, battery, trespass and negligence against the Met, which said it had ‘lawfully executed a warrant of entry’ and had no further involvement.

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