A 22-year-old mainland university student, Yu Lingke, was sentenced on Friday, 19 September 2025, to five months in jail after being convicted of animal cruelty in a shocking incident where he repeatedly kicked his roommate’s pet ragdoll cat inside their shared apartment in Whampoa Garden, Kowloon.
The court heard that on July 8, 2024, the defendant repeatedly kicked the cat, causing it to slam into a dryer and suffer fatal injuries. Although the roommate immediately called police and the cat was rushed for treatment, it later died.
Magistrate Philip Chan Chee-fai condemned Yu’s actions as “absolutely intolerable in a civilized society,” stressing that cruelty to animals undermines public values and must be met with strong deterrence.
Yu’s defense sought leniency, citing his youth, good academic record, expressions of remorse, and the claim that the cat had pre-existing health problems, including dehydration and cystitis, allegedly caused by long-term neglect rather than Yu’s actions alone.
The magistrate rejected these arguments, ruling that the severity of the offense outweighed Yu’s personal background.
Following sentencing, Yu was granted bail of HK$30,000, allowing him to remain free pending his appeal.