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17. 08. 12. - 16:09
Cat wins battle against rabbit
The bizarre case between a cat and a rabbit which has been busying a court in Innsbruck in the Austrian Tirol for the past two years has taken a new twist when judges rule din favour of the cat.
The battle started two years ago when Helli the cat went into a local garden in Kolsass where two rabbits were playing on the grass.
That evening the rabbits were missing. The neighbour accused the cat of killing his rabbits.
The neighbour then tried to sue the Gostner family for compensation.
At the beginning of this year Innsbruck court ruled that Helli's owner Mario Gostner, 43, should have taken more care of his cat and fined him 140 Euro.
However the rabbit owner was also found guilty of not taking care of his rabbits properly.
So the rabbit owner decided to take legal action against Gostner again. He claims the cat is still prowling around the neighbourhood and they feel threatened by the "killer" cat and want to ban it roaming freely.
Mario Gostner said: "It is not funny any more. We can't lock Helli in the house. I don't know what they expect us to do."
Now after the cat owner launched an appeal the district court in Hall has ruled the cat is still allowed to roam freely and does not have to be locked in the house.
The judge however ruled the cat is not allowed to chase the rabbits or threaten them.
The rabbit owner has been told he is responsible for protecting his rabbits not only against cats but also against birds if prey, foxes and other wildlife.
The rabbits have to be kept in suitable cages so they do not fall victim.
The cat is allowed to roam freely but not cause damage to neighbours gardens.
