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A WOMAN HAS been jailed for 14 weeks by a British judge for killing her kitten by cooking it in the microwave.
Laura Cunliffe, 23, who has a history of mental health problems, admitted putting her black-and-white pet Mowgli in the microwave as punishment for attacking her goldfish, the court in Barnsley in northern England heard.
She put the microwave on for five minutes but after a minute took out the cat when she realised what she had done. The kitten died around 90 minutes later after its internal organs continued to cook from the radiation.
Judge John Foster told her:
This was an act of utterly horrendous cruelty on your part on an animal that, as far as I could see, had come to trust you and rely on you.
He sentenced her to 14 weeks in jail, saying the term was intended as a deterrent for others. She was also banned from keeping animals for life.
However, members of Cunliffe’s family reacted angrily to the sentence, shouting as she was led away in handcuffs that “she doesn’t know what’s happening”.
Cunliffe’s lawyer, Alan Greaves, said his client had longstanding problems with psychotic depression and had been sectioned under mental health legislation 20 times.
Lawyers for the RSPCA animal charity, which brought the prosecution, said there was nothing to suggest Cunliffe was having a psychotic episode when she cooked the cat.
And Greaves accepted that she knew what she was doing at the time, saying she “just lost her temper” and adding: “She still can’t believe what she’s done.”
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Absolutely horrendous, sickening act. Can’t even bear to think about the suffering this poor animal went through. No living creature deserves to die in agony like this.
Slaughter houses often get caught inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals to save money and time.
Most eat the product though
Double standards
We won’t even get into you and your ‘special stuff ‘ hilary !
I was gonna take the piss, and say she should be certified until I read the article.
She SHOULD be certified, not imprisoned.
I say that as a cat owner. She needs something other than imprisonment.
Not long enough. Poor cat
She has mental issues she should not be locked up for this.
I agree with you glen, but then again, she shouldn’t have had a cat!
But by her own lawyers admission was not suffering a mental health episode at the time
She should go to the correct facility but the article didn’t state that! I wonder where she is serving this sentence?
The article didn’t even state how she was caught.
Her lawyer is not a Doctor.
I’m really not being facetious here…. and i actually like cats. But what gives a Cat a higher standard on the moral compass than say a lobster who is boiled alive… anyone who has heard a lobster scream can attest to this… would anyone get done for microwaving a live lobster? Perhaps there is a law i don’t know about in western societies that puts cats and dogs above other animals? anyone?
I have yet to see anyone bringing their pet lobster for a walk
So if a lobster gets brought for a walk it is deemed a prison sentence to boil alive?
Agree hound. Although lobsters don’t scream, they have no vocal chords – the screaming sound is air releasing from beneath their shell due to the high temperature.
There was a case in Limerick a few years back I think, where a Chinese restaurant owner was arrested because dogs were found in his freezer. His defence were that these were not for sale, but for his and his family’s personal consumption. Think he was convicted anyway, but remember finding it a little hypocritical that he could have all the dead chicken/cow/pig/sheep he wanted, but a dead dog attracted a criminal investigation.
You’re right. The way a lobster gets killed is horrendously cruel. But people’s taste buds allow them to excuse the inexcusable
As far as I know all fish or aquatic life are cold blooded and don’t feel pain. That’s why you can pull a steel hook out of the mouth of a fish and throw him back in and he has no ill effect.
As far as you know…
That’s just a myth! If someone pulled a hook out of your mouth you’d probably be ok, in a lot of pain though..
Oh indeed, she should be, but in a different institution!
Not facetious at all. You just highlight moral schizophrenia.
Actually Aisling, as it turns out, a minute was more than enough…
Only vets and abbatoirs can kill animals unless its game.
and if its game a night of candles and a cuddle by the fire instead?
But if he was any good he’d have reports from her doctor
So you think all cold blooded animals don’t feel pain?? wow..
A lot of studies have been done on this many of which support the theories that fish and crustaceans can in fact feel pain (behavioral changes as a direct result to stimuli).
One such study -
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-21055771
Very fair point.
Seriously did you just type that message. A min was long enough. It’s not a joke
Actually Homer Simpson did!! Sorry. I’ll go now ………
Homer used to walk Pinchey until he accidentally boiled him…..
Walk a lobster I mean.
What a ridiculous statement. Lobsters don’t scream. It’s just the air/steam being released from
Under the shell (albeit cruel none the less). Cats are far more developed social and domesticated animals. They look to humans for care. Not to be horrifically killed.
Ps she didn’t eat the kitten afterwards.
Because if she did there would have been no evidence to convict her.
Microwaving the cat was an act of punishment and as an act of punishment for something that you care for it is unspeakably cruel. She’s being jailed for the cruel manner in which she treated the animal if she was planning on eating it for whatever reason she would still be jailed because there are laws/regulations that govern what we can and can’t eat for our own safety. You cannot compare cooking livestock to brutally burning an animal who doesn’t know any better and is a domestic pet.
Where did you get that notion from?
Who walks their cat?
I was at a scientific conference in Edinburgh some years ago where it was shown that conclusive evidence had been found that fish do feel pain, especially when they have a steel hook stuck in their mouth.
Glen locked up and the key thrown away
Everyone has mental issues apparently when they commit a disgusting crime such as this. No excuse
Glen, would’nt u wonder who told on her?.
Why did she even have pets if she was unstable
what all seeing power do you know that micro manages people to such a level? On average pets probably assist the mood of such people.
the all seeing power that says you shouldn’t have a kitten at the mercy of someone who is going to fry it in a microwave i would imagine.
Based on the mental health information provided in the article I think it was a fair question to ask. No need to be so hostile and reactionary. Go read the daily mail
Put her in a microwave.
one of the cruelest things iv heard in a long time. makes me sick.
agreed. and the cat deserved everything it got
How could you say that?? what is wrong with you???
Any news on the goldfish?
A life for a life?
The goldfish can’t be brought for a walk so people don’t care.
You could always bring it for a swim though
wow, what a waste of a prison space. The person has mental issues, she should be dealt with through those services.
Its unlikely she will go to a regular prison.
More than likely a secure psychiatric facility.
With no chance or purr-ole?
Probably not going to be self catering either !
Ah come on meouw… that’s not funny.
I don’t care what mental problems she has, b1tch should be thrown in the microwave and nuked for a few minutes. See how she likes it. And if they can’t fit her into a microwave maybe a spin in the tumble dryer would sort her out.
That’s pawsitively the correct course of action.. i can’t think of a better way to serve retribution right meouw.
ah now thats harsh, she gave an apawlogy
How ridiculous. You would stoop to even worse levels of cruelty. What does that make you?
I love how people show that they care and have compassion by demanding to microwave a mentally ill woman. Would you be available to put her in? What would it say about the person who could microwave another human being?
This is just horrible! As a cat owner myself I can’t imagine what mental instability could be so severe as to make you microwave a kitten!! Presumably the little thing was in a state and wanted to get out and she still let the 5 minutes pass….it’s so cruel and I don’t think she will fully comprehend the gravity of her actions after such a short sentence! What if she does something similar to her baby in the future should she become pregnant? It’s pretty horrible really
Agreed. There’s no excuse for this. I find it so upsetting as a cat lover also, can’t get it out of my head. Mental issues no excuse. What a scary world we are living in…
What an evil, evil woman. Sickening. Poor kitty
This is a cat-astrophe.
Came out less than purr-fect I’d say
The fish came out feline fine.
I am a huge animal lover and am deeply saddened by this article however I am also saddened that this girl was jailed when she clearly has *severe* mental health problems. The article has omitted that the lady stopped taking her medication due to “the queen instructing her to do so”
It has also omitted that the lady tried to “cool the cat down with water” afterwards. I’m not justifying this shocking act however it really annoys me when people are not given the full facts by media to enable them to have a full informed opinion.
This woman has been sectioned many times and confessed what she did on a phyciatric ward…although appalling what she did I don’t feel she was in her true frame of mind and is likely extremely distressed over what she did.
Very sad for both involved.
And she’s only 23 so could potentially have a child in the future. It’s a known fact that people who are cruel to animals often are also to humans.
How did this go to court ? Did someone report it ?
I agree that it was horrible as is cruelty to animals but this women has mental issues. This sentence is harsh.
She would be better off spending 14 weeks in a hospital getting treatment or using the money to give her a life time supply of anti psychotics.
People on here care more about a cat than a sick human.
Society has failed!
She accepted that she knew what she was doing at the time, saying she “just lost her temper” and adding: “She still can’t believe what she’s done. Lawyers for the RSPCA animal charity, which brought the prosecution, said there was nothing to suggest Cunliffe was having a psychotic episode when she cooked the cat”.
I assume the court would have had her evaulated by a psychiatrist. Otherwise they probably would have had her committed to a mental hospital.
Sane people don’t put Cats in the microwave
Glen, I believe a woman in America put her cat in the microwave to dry it. No mention of mental illness. Just plain stupidity
Sane people do thoroughly evil things to animals and people all the time. Just because we find it horrific doesn’t mean it fits the definition of insane, it looks like they evaluated her and found that the act didn’t correspond to any of her other episodes. She probably deserves longer locked up but will likely serve the time in an institution anyway.
Hypothetically, if she had done that to a baby, do you think she should get prison or not? What justice would you say is fair?
Ross
No life in a institution
Glen lock her up
Hopefully in Rampton. 14 weeks not long enough.
Anyone capable of such an act is a danger to the community, she should be locked up for a very long time!
There is a direct correlation between killers, murderers & psychopaths-they nearly all started by abusing animals first!
She needs help, yes but she is too dangerous to be allowed to live independently without careful monitoring & ongoing psychological assessment!
At first glance I thought the woman was sentenced to 14 YEARS. Was thinking to myself that was an appropriate sentence. 14 WEEKS is a joke for animal torture / killing.
Revolting….
If her mental health issues were so serious then she shouldn’t be allowed to “look after” animals.
Ireland needs to dish out punishments for such horrific acts like this also.
Jesus … animal cruelty makes me so mad.
There is a persistent story of an American woman who did the same thing some years back, but claimed she was just trying to dry the cat after a bath (I think this may be modern myth). Story goes that the lack of any warning that microwaves should not be used to dry pets resulted in her being awarded a handsome settlement from the microwave’s manufacturer. In terms of the above article, it seems that perhaps the motivation for stupidity can be either very damning or very rewarding, from a legal perspective at least!
This was when microwaves were first brought out I believe and she thought of it as a conventional heater but there were no warnings saying do not put live animals inside and turn on. She probably thought at the time it would be like using a hair dryer to help dry her pet quicker.
Maybe I’m just a little more cynical than you Keith, but I would imagine she thought she could win a court case if she did it!
she shouldnt have done it and shouldnt be aloud have animals but she didnt know what she was doing, she tought she was punishing it, god bless her, would any of you like to be in that mental state? I wouldnt say so, so give her a brake.
I know this is a rare case……..BUT……..All women need to be taught not to microwave animals in the same way that all men must be taught about “rape culture” even though the % of men who are rapists is incredibly low. This is nothing short of “microwave an animal culture” and only women can stop it. I welcome all replies from feminist hypocrites.
I’m not a feminist, just puzzled by your moronic comment. Possibly the dumbest analogy I’ve ever heard.
What a sad, dull, little man you are.
@White Fang – he’s just a boring, little troll with nothing better to do, who’s without the skills or substance to get attention from anyone in a useful or positive manner.
So the money was in the grave beside you?
Hey lefties….someone is disagreeing with you….quick, think of a word that ends in …PHOBE!
You’reAnIdiotaphobe
You’re a twit
Above comment @ Arch Stanton…..
Get a life you Moron
So if i eat meat is it ok to put my bunny rabbit in the microwave when i get home.I dont want to do it. its just that i dont want to be accused of having double standards.i thought there was a difference between microwaving a cat and eating a steak but according to the people on here accusing others of double standerds there isnt.
To the people joking about it on this ye obviously must be a bit sick in the mind your selves to find microwaving a cat funny and a joke? Get a life I’m sure one of you own a dog would you like if this was done to your animal?? Its sick it’s not a joke what so ever what morals have ye to find it funny… As for ye funny people I’m sure you will all get on great in life with attitudes like that!
I felt sick after reading this. How truly horrific & disturbing. I hope she gets daily beatings in prison, the evil vile excuse for a human being.
I’d do the same to her !
Time to pull in your claws,Hic!
Not sure if this story made headlines here? but remember it causing uproar in the UK a while back,
I remember it well-some nut job-she was caught on CCTV throwing the cat into a bin,in some sort of dispute with a neighbour,who reported her cat missing!..cruel is an understatement,in that particular case…can’t remember if she was jailed though…
Yet you don’t see people going to jail for killing animals for food.
Kittens are cute. That’s the only reason people feel bad about them dying.
Anyone who would put a plate of chicken in the microwave but not a cat needs to get their ethics straight.
I will disagree. The chicken isn’t alive when microwaved.
If it was what view would the court take? prison?
Cruelty is cruelty.
What difference does it make that it’s not alive when you put it in? It’s still being killed.
Only licenced abbatoirs and individuals authorised to kill for sport can kill animals. If I walked up to a cow and killed it, I could be charged for animal cruelty and destroying someone else’s property
And that’s the problem. We don’t have any issues with killing animals for food or for sport.
We only call it cruelty when someone kills an animal humans keep as pets.
There’s a huge difference between the two and I say that as someone who has been vegetarian since 1989. Now I’ll admit I’d have grave reservations where poultry is concerned, even factories run to the highest standards are still well short of 100% quick and “painless” death and halal slaughter of animals is outright sickening, I don’t know how anyone in their right mind could do that job, but neither compare to putting a kitten in a microwave and the slow agonising death it would’ve suffered. If she was sane when doing it then she deserved a lot longer sentence. If she wasn’t then she should be sent to a hospital until doctors are sure she will not cause danger to herself or others. She should also never be allowed keep animals again.
I think you’d do well to learn a bit about how factory farming (particularly in the US) actually operates.
Far from having a quick and painless death, animals are made to live lives of unrelenting misery and suffering from birth to slaughter.
Chicken farming for fast food outlets such as KFC are probably the most inhumane. Chickens are force fed so much (in order to produce more meat) that their legs break when they attempt to stand up and are kept in pens so full that those who can move have only a few centimetres of space between them. Pigs likewise are kept confined in stocks so tight that most can’t even move their heads and are fed remains of dead members of their own species.
Incidentally, pigs are cognitively smarter than dogs. Yet the idea of treating dogs in such a way sickens people in a way that treating pigs does not.
That’s rubbish.
Dumb ass
Dumb ass Eoin
Well eoin, you see the well thought out responses to your post? Don’t worry though; nobody can defend factory farming, so they throw insults instead
Did the kitten taste good?
Most pussies do Hic!
14 weeks is a joke for this horrible cruel act, she should be put in an oven herself , evil bitch
I just fell off my stool Hic!
Microwaving cats is bad. Boiling lobsters alive is bad. Killing animals for food is bad. Bad, bad, bad. Two wrongs don’t make a right, or three either. End of.
How would she like to have her head into a microwave oven until her head explodes she is a mental case and needs to be locked up in mental intuition with a strap jacket on.That poor kitten didn’t deserve to suffer in the way I hope that bitch gets what’s coming to her.
What an utter bitch, no doubt on welfare. Should have got far longer and be hard labour
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