‘Truly horrifying’ – reaction to Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his pet cat

The outcry over West Ham defender Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his pet cat has continued to grow in the wake of a video showing him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the reaction from the club, their sponsors, fans and animal charities.

The Hammers on Wednesday fined Zouma two weeks’ wages, reported to be in the region of £250,000. They emphasised the matter continued “to be handled with the utmost seriousness” and said the player was “extremely remorseful” and “understood the depth of feeling surrounding the incident”. Both player and club are now cooperating with an RSPCA investigation. The club had condemned his actions and Zouma apologised for them in statements the previous day, but the Frenchman was still named in the starting line-up for their Premier League match against Watford that evening, with boss David Moyes saying his job was “to pick the best team and Kurt was part of that”.

The RSPCA, which is leading the investigation into the incident while co-operating with Essex Police, branded the video “very upsetting” following its emergence online. It has now taken Zouma’s two cats into its care, where they will remain while the investigation continues. National pet charity Blue Cross said the “level of violence” Zouma showed “was truly horrifying” and called for him to face prosecution, while Cats Protection’s director of veterinary services Dr Maggie Roberts said the decision to play him against Watford sent “an appalling message to fans and the wider public”.

Zouma has lost his personal kit deal with adidas, while three of West Ham’s sponsors have made public statements condemning his actions. West Ham’s official destination partner Experience Kissimmee said it would