In February 2022, public footage showed footballer Kurt Zouma kicking, slapping and throwing shoes at one of his pet cats at home. The video was filmed and shared by his brother Yoan Zouma, triggering public condemnation, club sanctions, sponsorship fallout and an RSPCA investigation.

The RSPCA took Zouma’s two Bengal cats into care and brought Animal Welfare Act proceedings against Kurt and Yoan Zouma. The Guardian reported that Kurt Zouma pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal; Yoan Zouma admitted aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the offence.

In June 2022, Kurt Zouma was ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service, pay nearly GBP 9,000 in court costs, and was banned from keeping cats for five years. Yoan Zouma was ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service and was also banned from owning cats for five years. The court described the conduct as disgraceful and reprehensible.

This archive records the case as an intentional animal-harm incident in which public video evidence led to animal-welfare accountability. The image used is a Guardian / Reuters court photograph; the archive does not use or recirculate frames showing the cat being harmed.

Sources

• The Guardian: West Ham footballer Kurt Zouma ordered to do community service over cat abuse
• The Guardian: RSPCA prosecuting West Ham Kurt Zouma over cat-kicking video
• BBC Sport public summary: Zouma given community service after attacking cat