A small claims tribunal ordered a couple to pay e697 after a Persian cat called Shulamyth’s American Beauty gave birth to kittens without breeding rights.

Joanne Mifsud and Kevin Micallef were ordered to pay Nadine Cachia e697 (Lm300) after the tribunal found that they had allowed the cat to breed without having the necessary breeding rights.

In January 2002, Ms Cachia sold a Persian cat called Shulamyth’s American Beauty without any breeding rights to Ms Mifsud and Mr Micallef on condition that they pay her e697 in case of breeding.

The tribunal, presided over by the adjudicator Joseph Refalo, heard how the couple had signed an agreement stipulating that if they breed the cat, they will have to “pay the remaining amount for a cat with breeding right, that is the sum of Lm300.”

Ms Cachia found out that Shulamyth’s American Beauty had given birth to kittens after she saw photos of Shulamyth on Mr Micallef’s website.