A little jealousy in relationships is normal. But this man took it to a whole new level when he felt his girlfriend's cat got more attention from her.
For those who have pets and love them, tearing yourself away from them can be difficult. And if you're in a relationship, sometimes it can be a bone of contention. But more often than not, your partner is understanding and might even come to love your pet the way you do.
However, there are some people who cannot handle the attention their partner gives their pet. But what's odd is that this Australian man experienced such intense jealousy that he did the unthinkable. The reaction he had towards his girlfriend's cat will have animal lovers rising in outrage.
21-year-old Sydney resident was so jealous of the attention she was giving Hibala, her two-year-old Ragdoll cat, that he threw him down a seven-story garbage chute, reported the Daily Mail. He was found after his owner found him missing and was immediately taken to the hospital.
While cats are known for their ability to land on all fours, this was something not even Hibala could escape unscathed. He was diagnosed with wounds that exposed bone, severe inflammation, and a fractured tail. In fact, vets were forced to remove a huge chunk of his tail just to keep him alive. He was then kept in the veterinary hospital for four days.
And this is not even the first time he's done it. He even abused the poor feline while his girlfriend was away and Hibala was entrusted to him. When the girlfriend asked for a picture of her cat, she noticed something off. “In a photo she [the girlfriend] requested from the defendant, she noticed an injury on Hibala’s nose. She asked the defendant to take the cat to a vet, but after he refused, a friend of hers collected the cat and took him to a vet,” an RSPCA release stated.
It was then that more heart-breaking news came. When the friend took Hibala to get medical help, more serious injuries were discovered. Wounds covered his front left paw, he had fractured bones and numerous facial injuries. This led to another bout of surgery and had to spend another six days in the hospital recovering.
Thankfully, the offender was ordered to pay a large fine of AUD $6,000 (£3,300 / US $4,200) - $3,000 for throwing the cat down the garbage chute, $3,000 for refusing to take the animal to the vet. He was also given a two-year community order with three months of intensive corrections. As for jail time, "The early guilty plea is the only thing keeping [the defendant] out of jail," said the magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court. He also told the man, "I have no idea what to say to a person who places a cat in a garbage chute."
In addition to his punishment, magistrates ruled that he can't own, buy, or be placed in the care of any animal for 10 years, according to International Business Times. New South Wales RSPCA chief inspector Scott Meyers said, "Hurting an animal out of pure jealousy, one that belongs to and is loved by your partner no less, and letting it suffer over a prolonged period of time is a shocking display of callousness."
The good news is that Hibala is now safe with his owner in a different place, nowhere near the man who viciously hurt him.
References:
https://www.ibtimes.com/man-threw-girlfriends-cat-down-garbage-chute-was-jealous-pet-2804424
