Woman fined for throwing kitten

A Nelson woman who broke her kitten's leg when she threw it at her boyfriend's car has been fined $200.

Felicity Kate O'Brien, 18, admitted a charge of cruelty to an animal when she appeared in Nelson District Court, The Nelson Mail reported.

The charge related to an incident on March 16 when O'Brien was the passenger in her boyfriend's car and the pair began arguing.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graeme Eden said O'Brien got out of the car holding her five-week-old kitten and, when her boyfriend began to drive off, she threw the kitten at the car.

The kitten became stuck in the car door as it shut, breaking a front leg, Mr Eden said.

Defence lawyer Wayne Jones said O'Brien had intended to "lob it through the open door of the car", but the door slammed shut when it was only halfway through.

"She was desperate to take it to the vet after that. She had no intention of harming the kitten," Mr Jones said.

Judge Graeme Noble said the kitten's injury might well have been the result of an accident, but, at the same time, O'Brien had thrown the kitten.

"I accept you are very sorry about what happened, and you loved the animal," Judge Noble said.

- NZPA