Chilean Supreme Court rules to protect cat from frequent travel

The Supreme Court of Chile ruled that a house cat should not be moved monthly between the homes of two former partners.

The court decided that the cat, named Perseo, must be treated as a sentient being. The judges ruled that the animal's well-being takes priority over the legal rights and interests of its owners. While the Chilean Civil Code classifies animals as movable property, the five judges of the highest court decided to grant the cat higher protection.

The court granted the woman of the former couple the right to keep the cat. This decision upheld a previous ruling from the Valdivia appeals court. The former partner had challenged the woman's exclusive possession and requested a shared custody arrangement because they bought the cat together. A lower court had originally ruled that the cat should be handed over every month at a police station.

The Supreme Court overturned this, stating that the high level of conflict between the two people made it impossible to ensure the cat's welfare under a shared custody agreement.