Very Bad Karma:

A British court sent a mother of two to prison for six weeks for killing the family cat by boiling it in a washing machine ...

Holly Thacker, 34, decided to kill Fluffy after it scratched her, the court in Norwich in eastern England heard.

She denied cruelty.

What, she thought the cat would enjoy the experience, or perhaps learn something from it??? *aghast*

Admittedly I have on occasion thought of doing harm to a cat, but it was just one cat in particular and its behaviour was truly abominable (posing a serious health risk to my then-toddler daughter), and its owner refused to take responsibility. This was several years ago and I haven't seen that particular cat in a long time. Regardless, I did not harm said cat.

Jonathan Eales, prosecuting, told the court that Thacker's ex-husband alerted the national animal protection society, the RSPCA, following a conversation with her at her home on November 7.

"A conversation took place in which she said: 'I haven't got my cat any more'. He said: 'Why?'. She said: 'The cat scratched me so I put it in the washing machine'," Mr Eales said.

"She then laughed and said: 'I put it on a f#cking boiling wash as well'. She said: 'I am serious. Then I put it in the bin'."

I suppose we can be grateful she didn't just toss it in the gutter.

According to a veterinarian, the cat would have taken five to 10 minutes to die. Fluffy broke its claws trying to escape.

Why do they not know the gender of Fluffy? And why "Fluffy"? Icky name. Poor cat. No, seriously - poor cat.