Aussie man fined $25,000 for cat torture

A 71-year-old Perth man who tortured a young cat to death has been described by a magistrate as "a disgrace to the human race" and fined $20,000 (NZ$25,000).

John William Murray Connell, from Beckenham in the city's south, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the Perth Magistrates Court.

On Friday, he was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay more than $2000 to the RSPCA, including legal costs.

The court heard that on February 2 at Beckenham, a witness saw Connell kicking a young cat, which was prevented from running away by two dogs Connell had with him.

The witness reported seeing Connell telling the dogs to stop, then picking up the cat and throwing it several metres away.

He was then seen swinging the cat around in the air while holding it by the head, teasing one of his dogs in the process.

The dog grabbed the cat when it was again thrown by Connell and it ran off, shaking the whining cat in its mouth.

Connell eventually threw the cat into a nearby creek before leaving.

The court heard that Connell believed the cat had been killing native birds.

An RSPCA inspector later collected the dead cat and an autopsy confirmed the presence of severe injuries, multiple puncture wounds and lacerations on the body consistent with a dog attack.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Michael Wheeler said the incident was a "sustained act of vile cruelty".

"You tortured this cat and treated it like a cockroach."

"You are a disgrace to the human race," Magistrate Wheeler said.

- AAP