Former human rights lawyer, 79, sues after police ‘chop down door’ to seize her cat

An award-winning former solicitor is suing the RSPCA in a High Court battle over claims police cut down her front door with an ax so they could seize her disabled cat.

Former human rights lawyer of the year, 79-year-old Dr. Katherine Theodotou said she was “violently pushed to the ground” during a raid on her north London home by six police officers and two RSPCA officers following a report that her cat Rita had been mistreated.

He also founded a Greek school in Islington and ran an animal sanctuary near Hertford. Theodotou insists that she was the victim of a “malicious report” sent to the RSPCA, leading to an arrest warrant and Rita being seized.

She is now suing both the RSPCA and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, demanding compensation as well as an order for her cat to be returned by the RSPCA.

RSPCA lawyers told the High Court this week that they had acted in Rita’s “best interests” after receiving a report from vets who had previously treated the cat saying her condition had deteriorated under her owner’s care.

However, Dr. Theodotou’s lawyers insist the cat was positively pampered at home, with the owner “spending large sums of money to keep him safe and well”; This includes the cost of two private nurses and a personal physiotherapist.

The lawyer was born and educated in Cyprus before moving to the UK, according to her LinkedIn profile, where she and her Islington-based law firm Highgate Hill lawyers have won a number of awards, including human rights lawyer of the year and the UK woman of the year award in probate law.

However, he was struck off the UK solicitor register in 2022 after he was found to have made “dishonest” representations when applying for professional insurance.

He is also the founder and honorary director of the Greek school in Islington and runs an animal sanctuary at Woodcock Lodge Farm, near Hertford.

This week her case reached court and her lawyers requested an emergency injunction to ban any action that would bring Rita to the ground before the full hearing of the case begins.

Liam Wells, for Dr Theodotou, told the judge, Mrs Justice Obi: “This matter concerns a cat called Rita.

“Dr. Theodotou, in his claim, ultimately seeks a mandatory injunction to have Rita returned to him.

“He is also seeking damages against the RSPCA for harassment and/or negligence, and damages against the Metropolitan Police for assault, battery, trespass and negligence.

“Dr Theodotou is 79 years old. He is a passionate animal lover who has been promoting animal welfare for the last 30 years.

“He is the rightful owner of Rita, having had her since Rita’s birth approximately 17 months ago.

“Rita was unfortunately born disabled and cannot move her back legs properly and therefore occasionally suffers from infections in her bladder.

“Dr Theodotou knows that Rita is an intelligent cat and knows that Rita is constantly learning to walk on all fours.

“He says that before April 2025 Rita was well cared for at home and Rita received regular medical support from specialist veterinary surgeons paid for by him.”

He explained that Rita was cared for by vets for several months during 2025 before being returned to her owner’s care, and two subsequent RSPCA inspections revealed no problems.

However, Dr. A “malicious report regarding Rita’s welfare was made to the RSPCA”, Theodotou claimed, and an arrest warrant was issued by the charity from a magistrates’ court, giving them the power to raid her property with the help of the police and seize the disputed cat.

He told the judge: “On 27 March 2026 Dr Theodotou was at private residence on the property with Rita, recovering from recent surgery for bilateral breast cancer. “It was a complete surprise when the RSPCA attended the property, accompanied by six Metropolitan Police officers.

“Dr Theodotou did not understand the reason for so many uniformed police officers being on the property and did not want to allow them entry.

“Metropolitan Police officers began using an ax to break down the front door of the property.

“Officers of both defendants entered all areas of the property, including the Greek school and the private lodging upstairs.

“As Dr Theodotou attempted to open the door of the private residence to prevent the police officers from breaking down the door, the police officers violently pushed him to the ground and made strong contact to his injured chest.

“RSPCA officers located Rita and removed her from the property against Dr Theodotou’s will. To date, Rita has not been returned to the claimant.”

The case came before Lady Justice Obi this week and Dr. Theodotou’s lawyers sought an urgent injunction to eliminate the danger of her cat being put to sleep before the case comes to trial.

“Rita is among the best cared for cats you can find. My client is spending a huge amount of money to keep her safe and well and to teach her to walk again,” Mr Wells told the judge, adding that if the cat was put down “the damage to my client would be irreparable, he would be losing something of inestimable value.”

“Both parties want what is in Rita’s best interest. For my client, euthanasia is not in Rita’s best interest,” he said.

But RSPCA barrister Mark Townsend told the judge: “When Rita was located and taken from the claimant on 27 March 2026, her physical examination revealed that her general condition was ‘extremely concerning and consistent with a significant deterioration since discharge, as well as evidence suggestive of prolonged inadequate hygiene, care and monitoring in the home environment’.”

He said the cat was taken to a veterinary hospital after being taken from her home and is now “Rita is doing well. She has flourished once again and has developed an ‘extraordinarily loving, cheeky temperament’.”

The court heard the RSPCA lawyer told the judge there were no current plans to put him to sleep.

“Rita’s health conditions are complex, but she is progressing very well with the daily care and treatment she receives and we have no intention of euthanizing her,” he said.

“However, the first and second defendants’ powers to act as they deem to be in their best interests should not be restricted. After all, in this context, his interests must be placed above those of the plaintiff.

“So long as the first and second defendants acted with the intention of alleviating Rita’s suffering, the plaintiff has no standing to seek injunctive relief against ‘harm’ to Rita.”

Met solicitor Rachael Hyde added: “On 27 March 2026 officers lawfully enforced an order from the Carlisle Magistrates Court to enter the plaintiff’s property to collect the plaintiff’s cat due to welfare concerns from the RSPCA.

“The second defendant (the Met Police) had nothing to do with the cat. He had no knowledge of the cat’s whereabouts and had no control over the cat’s welfare.

“These are matters entirely for the RSPCA. The second defendant’s involvement in the collection of the cat was limited to lawfully executing the search warrant.”

Ruling against Dr Theodotou’s application for an injunction to ban the cat from being put down, Mrs Justice Obi said: “I am not satisfied that a real or imminent risk of euthanasia exists.”

Although the cat was placed with a foster caregiver, Dr. He said Theodotou was still “concerned about the deterioration of the defendant’s care.”

“The plaintiff clearly thinks Rita might be euthanized or otherwise harmed,” he added, but concluded: “there is no evidence that euthanasia or any other irreversible step was considered.”

“I conclude that the plaintiff has not proven the need for injunctive relief,” he said.

The application has been postponed until a magistrates’ court hearing later this month, where the RSPCA is seeking to take legal possession of Rita.

Dr Theodotou’s claim for damages and the return of the cat is ongoing in the High Court and will return at a later date unless the parties can reach an agreement out of court.