A man has pleaded not guilty to allegedly lighting a housefire at East Maitland that killed two cats and sent a man to hospital at the weekend.
Todd Anthony Rinkin was refused bail in Maitland Local Court on Monday, a day after he was charged with damaging property by fire and breaching bail.
Emergency crews were called to Lawes Street about 5.30am on Sunday, where firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
The home was significantly damaged.
Paramedics treated a 28-year-old man for smoke inhalation and minor burns at the scene, before they took him to Maitland Hospital in a stable condition.
Police established a crime scene and found the bodies of two cats inside the burnt home.
Detectives arrested Mr Rinkin on Raymond Terrace Road at Millers Forest later on Sunday and he was soon charged.
The 44-year-old, who was on bail for an unrelated matter when he allegedly lit the fire, will face court again on November 23.
