Kurt Zouma / TW Animal cruelty

[HotToddyColdSauvignon]

Apologies, couldn’t see a thread about this.

Just seen the most horrendous video of a West Ham footballer drop kicking his cat across the room, then throwing things at it, then slapping it out of someone’s arms.

(Link to video mobile.twitter.com/emilyhewertson/status/1490811894197886981?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet)

• sky news link also - www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11685/12535891/kurt-zouma-west-ham-defender-apologises-after-video-emerges-of-him-kicking-his-cat

It’s being published by the sun, but what I don’t understand is, why when (quite rightly) the lady who slapped the horse was sacked, all West Ham have said was that they “have spoken to him and will deal with internally”.

This is horrendous! The poor cat

I do think the cat needs to be removed so it can be checked over at least.. it may well have sustained an injury or have previous injuries - it didn’t look like it was a one off incident since the kid didn’t seem fazed by it.

It's worth noting that people - fuck, what am I saying, it's men, it's always men - who mistreat animals don't tend to be noted for their empathy or kindness when it comes to women or children, either.

Fuck this arsehole. I'd love to think he would be prosecuted, turfed out of his sport and lose his living, but we all know that won't happen, because he is a MAN and a FOOTBALLER, which is a sort of god for other men.

Despicable prick.

@babbez “In this case, even vegans are willing to basically side with Zouma to prove their point (asking why we care about this one cat- siding with those saying it doesn't matter).”

That’s flipping revolting. I think a lot of ‘activists’ are just psychopathic authoritarians.

@mowglika

I do think the cat needs to be removed so it can be checked over at least.. it may well have sustained an injury or have previous injuries - it didn’t look like it was a one off incident since the kid didn’t seem fazed by it.

I just saw thumbnail and wasn’t sure, so there’s a child there, learning to copy this vile creature’s behaviour, just gross beyond words.

The fact that the child wasn't scared or upset suggests to me that they think it's normal and fine. He held the cat for the bastard to hit.

A child seeing a "beloved pet" brutally abused would be terrified and very upset.

This child was neither.

Only a fool would believe this was an isolated incident. That's a child who knows nothing else.

@babbez ''Those that feel comfortable openly defending animal abuse exist. In this case, even vegans are willing to basically side with Zouma to prove their point (asking why we care about this one cat- siding with those saying it doesn't matter).''

You are really reaching there. I can assure you that no vegan is siding with this prick. I haven't read the whole thread, but I presume someone has referred to the meat/dairy industry. If so, they aren't saying that this cat, which feels pain and suffering, is irrelevant, they are saying that all animals feel pain and therefore should be free from pain and suffering. Especially at the hands of a human who abhors animal abuse.

As for this fucker, it will be the activists who succeed in getting justice for that cat.

David Moyes, just heard of him, also needs a kick up the arse for condoning his behaviour, 'for a win'.

Those saying the cat needs to be checked by a vet - yes definitely but that's not enough. It needs to be rehomed immediately! It can't stay in that house for a second longer. Most cats would run away if they were being abused but some mentioned this cat looked like an expensive breed so it's probably kept in the house. The poor animal is trapped inside at the mercy of that horrible man.

I despise people who hurt animals.

Shame his money and his fame are shielding him.

And I don't even like cats.

Just an absolute arsehole. I hope that poor, poor animal is removed. I completely agree @IncompleteSenten. There is no way this was an isolated incident.

Bloody hell, the child holding the cat.

This is really weird - I guess he’s just very thick if he couldn’t see the reaction this would result in.

[quote FireMeetGasoline]@babbez ''Those that feel comfortable openly defending animal abuse exist. In this case, even vegans are willing to basically side with Zouma to prove their point (asking why we care about this one cat- siding with those saying it doesn't matter).''

You are really reaching there. I can assure you that no vegan is siding with this prick. I haven't read the whole thread, but I presume someone has referred to the meat/dairy industry. If so, they aren't saying that this cat, which feels pain and suffering, is irrelevant, they are saying that all animals feel pain and therefore should be free from pain and suffering. Especially at the hands of a human who abhors animal abuse.

As for this fucker, it will be the activists who succeed in getting justice for that cat.[/quote]
@Fridafever

Well yes, not every single one, but I've seen several of those kind of tweets. They go along the lines of "you don't care about livestock, you eat meat".

This is exactly what those saying "it's just a cat" are saying.

They are 100% diminishing animal abuse by saying it, whether intended or not.

Obviously this isn't all vegans, but this whole "livestock get it worse" argument is playing into animal abusers hands. Why should we care about a mere cat?

Sorry Friday, I meant @FireMeetGasoline !

@theneverendinglaundry

I would hazard a guess that animals are treated as roughly as this every day in the meat industry.....

You are correct, but folk will always be more upset about this cat (abhorrent behaviour btw) than the abuse that their dinner had to endure. And worse, will try to excuse it. I've worked at a slaughter house and seen,heard abuse every day. The animals are not fed or watered for the last 24/48 as it will hinder the processing.

Men violently handling frightened animals,joking about removing teeth on a sheeps head for free blow jobs and complaints from decent farmers as their carcasses were returned bruised.

ALL animal cruelty is disgusting but most will happily sit down tonight and eat it.
(Oh, and the grass fed, red tractor, organic animals were treated exactly the same)

You're wrongly assuming people are ok with that though. Those who condone Zouma, yes those types think it's acceptable.

Normal sane people, no. And kicking and slapping livestock is definitely unnecessary cruelty.

Bringing gaming into the debate about Zouma doesn't convert anyone to veganism, it just diminishes the abuse the cat.

It just sounds like 'who cares, this happens all the time', when people ignore the situation at hand and start with the whattaboutery.

(That's without getting into the idea that veganism is flawed. SUPPORT organic, ethical farms of you want them to exist!)

They go along the lines of "you don't care about livestock, you eat meat".

This is exactly what those saying "it's just a cat" are saying.

I don't think that's what vegans are saying. I don't think their response is minimising the cat's abuse. It's more so against the people who happily eat (abused animals as) meat but hypocritically call out an abused animal because it's a 'pet'. They're calling out the hypocrisy of those who say they're animal lovers but only seem to love certain animals. To vegans, both are abuse and equally abhorrent.

I'm not vegan nor a regular meat-eater per se (I do eat meat, eggs and milk but very rarely. A few times a year. 90% of the food I eat can be eaten by a vegan) but I always see from Vegans pov.

Although I haven't seen the responses you're referring to on other platforms. So maybe, there are vegans who mean to say "it's just a cat, what about others". Unlikely but maybe you've seen them.

I am not diminishing the cruelty that poor cat has suffered (I doubt it was the first time it happened either). No animal should suffer.

Just pointing out that that many will sit down tonight at their dinner tables and eat an innocent animal that suffered. Why point in disgust and one a used animal while shoving another abused animal down your throat?

I'm not trying to convince anyone to go vegan, I can hardly talk, I've killed thousands of pigs,sheep,chickens etc. But there is a huge blind spot when it comes to what we are all party to.

Cat violently kicked=disgusting footballer.
A pig being lowered into a chamber containing 90% CO2 = also disgusting but considered fine by most of the population.

I agree it’s hypocritical from a pure animal welfare point of view to be very upset about this cat if you eat low welfare meat and dairy.

I do think though that people are being disingenuous if they can’t see why this is particularly horrible though. Just from a parenting perspective - kicking and abusing your child’s pet is awful.

@WatcherOnTheWall

They go along the lines of "you don't care about livestock, you eat meat".

This is exactly what those saying "it's just a cat" are saying.

I don't think that's what vegans are saying. I don't think their response is minimising the cat's abuse. It's more so against the people who happily eat (abused animals as) meat but hypocritically call out an abused animal because it's a 'pet'. They're calling out the hypocrisy of those who say they're animal lovers but only seem to love certain animals. To vegans, both are abuse and equally abhorrent.

I'm not vegan nor a regular meat-eater per se (I do eat meat, eggs and milk but very rarely. A few times a year. 90% of the food I eat can be eaten by a vegan) but I always see from Vegans pov.

It's not intentional, but it feeds into what those who don't care say. Others have it worse/it happens every day, why make a big deal of this one instance. Why should anyone care if we eat meat anyway. It's harmful unintentionally and very counter productive.

I gave up eating meat because I hated the cruelty surrounding meat production. So yes I can feel sad about this cat and the suffering of animals on farms. Yes it's hypocritical to eat meat and be sad about one cat but I suppose most people don't want to think too deeply about where their meat comes from. Many people have much loved pet cats and find it difficult to see such horrible treatment.

We apply this disordered thinking about ethics all the time by the way - it’s hardly unique to animal suffering. People got terribly excited about the idea that we should undertake all sorts of hardships and financial difficulties to protect vulnerable people from dying from covid. Actually if they really valued human life over their own financial comfort they’d be donating everything over a subsistence level existence to pay for developing world vaccinations.

@SallyWD

I gave up eating meat because I hated the cruelty surrounding meat production. So yes I can feel sad about this cat and the suffering of animals on farms. Yes it's hypocritical to eat meat and be sad about one cat but I suppose most people don't want to think too deeply about where their meat comes from. Many people have much loved pet cats and find it difficult to see such horrible treatment.

Very good point.