World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Chile's Supreme Court gives separated couple's cat to one owner
Chile's Supreme Court has ruled in a dispute between former partners over their cat, Perseo.
The court gave the woman the right to care for Perseo, rejecting her ex-partner's request for shared care.
He had sought a monthly handover, which the couple's first court had approved.
The judges said the cat is a sentient being whose welfare should come before the owners' interests.
Chilean law classifies animals as movable property, but the five judges said the cat's protection mattered more.
The court found the former partners' high level of conflict made shared care unsuitable for ensuring the cat's well-being.
Its ruling upheld an appeal court decision from Valdivia and ended the dispute at the country's highest court.
Chile’s Supreme Court ruled that the cat Perseo should not have to travel between its former owners each month.
The court said the cat’s welfare should take priority over its owners’ interests and rights.
It gave the woman the right to care for Perseo, upholding an appeals court ruling.
The woman’s former partner had sought alternating care after an initial court ruling backed his request.
The Supreme Court said the couple’s high level of conflict made shared care unsuitable.
- Who
- Chile’s Supreme Court ruled in a dispute between a separated couple over their cat, Perseo.
- What
- The court gave the woman the right to care for the cat and rejected monthly alternating care.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Chile; the appeals court ruling upheld by the Supreme Court was from Valdivia.
- Why
- The court said Perseo’s welfare should come first and that the couple’s conflict made shared care unsuitable.
The woman
Her former partner
Care arrangement
The woman
She appealed the initial ruling that required monthly handovers.
Her former partner
He challenged her exclusive care of Perseo and sought alternating care.
A court ruled in favor of the former partner’s request for alternating care, with monthly handovers reportedly set to take place at a police station.
The woman appealed the arrangement.
The Valdivia appeals court gave the woman the right to care for Perseo.
The court upheld the appeals court decision and rejected monthly alternating care.
- Cat
- Perseo
- Country
- Chile
- Care decision
- The woman was given the right to care for the cat
- Appeals court
- Valdivia
- Supreme Court vote
- Unanimous
What people are saying
sentient being
the high level of conflict between the parties would rule out ensuring the domestic cat’s welfare under joint custody