Woman fined $1,300 after her cat trespassed into neighbor’s yard — but the pet’s heartbreaking ‘double punishment’ has locals defending the owner

She said the case left her so stressed that she can’t sleep and now needs therapy just to handle the pressure.

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

(L) A cat sneaking into a yard. (R) A woman crying in court. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Irina Nedikova, (R) Guy Cali)

In Agde, France, a woman is facing mounting legal issues after her cat was accused of trespassing into a neighbor’s yard. Dominique Valdes, the cat's owner, was initially fined $1,300 following a court ruling in January 2025. However, the situation later escalated, and now, Rémi the cat will return to court in December to face further fines. This ongoing legal battle has caused distress for Valdes, who is now dealing with both the financial burden and the emotional toll caused by the case.

A pet cat in a garden. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Lora Rikky)

As reported by the Daily Mail on November 2, 2025, the case began when Rémi was accused of trespassing and causing damage to the neighbor’s property. The court was informed that the cat had peed on a duvet, defecated in the garden, and smudged the wall with paw marks. The initial ruling in January for these actions had already imposed a fine of $1,300, covering damages and legal costs, with an additional penalty of $35 for each instance the cat crossed the property line. However, the neighbor’s continued complaints have led to Rémi being accused of reoffending. As a result, Valdes now faces a new hearing in December, where she could be required to pay a total of $2,310. Additionally, the fine for the orange cat crossing the boundary has increased to $172 per incident, as per GB News. This development has left Valdes overwhelmed, as she struggles to keep Rémi at home to avoid further legal complications.

A young woman sitting with her hands on her head (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Tom Merton) — A young woman sitting with her hands on her head. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Tom Merton)

Valdes admitted that the ongoing case had caused her severe stress, leading to insomnia and the need for therapy to cope. "When I was told about the conviction, it was as if I'd been hit over the head with a brick," she said. The situation has also affected Rémi, who is now confined to the house to prevent him from crossing the fence. "I can't even put him in my garden for fear that he'll jump the fence." Valdes further explained, "To keep him quiet, I tend to give him more food because I don't know what else to do when he howls, so he eats more and has gained weight." She added that it felt as though her cat had been "sentenced to house arrest," which she described as a “double punishment” for both herself and her pet.

Victim Giving Heartfelt Testimony to Judge. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | gorodenkoff)

Despite being seen as a nuisance by the neighbor, Rémi has received support from other locals. Some residents have criticized the excessive legal action. Azais Josian, a local resident, told BFMTV, "He wanders around, kills my rats, and doesn’t bother me at all. It's scandalous, it's really taking legal action for nothing." Others expressed concern that this case could set a dangerous precedent. "In the future, this very perverse system could affect us all directly," one neighbor said. Animal protection groups, including the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA), have also voiced their concerns, with director Guillaume Sanchez stating, "If this case sets a precedent, we can undoubtedly expect a slowdown in adoptions. Who would want to adopt a pet if they risked being ordered to pay penalties for their animal's movements? No one."