Horrifying footage shows the moment a woman drags her cat by the lead across a road as she clutches a box of fried chicken.
The pet owner is walking in the rain outside KFC in Melbourne, Australia with the reluctant grey and white feline.
The woman was spotted with headphones in and wearing tracksuit bottoms.
Those filming the incident from their car across the street can be heard laughing hysterically as the woman drags the helpless animal along the footpath before eventually crossing the road.
Social media users have called out the woman for animal cruelty.
"People in the car laughing are right up there with the b***h dragging the cat," one user said.
Another said: "How do you sit there and laugh at that?"
The RSPCA is now investigating the video after it gained a large number of views.
The statement said: "The treatment of the cat in the footage would be expected to cause it profound distress which could have been avoided in a number of ways."
Despite walking a cat on a lead being uncommon, the animal welfare group said it is legal and sometimes preferred as the animals can prey upon native birds if they're allowed to roam.
A study has found pet cats kill about 230 million native Australian animals a year and research published by the Guardian suggests cats, wild and domesticated cats are responsible for dozens of extinctions and threatens another 120 species.
New legislation mandates that from July, all Canberran cats in the capital will have to be kept indoors.
This follows Greater Bendigo in Victoria which already has the rule and the Adelaide Hills in South Australia brought in similar rules at the start of the year.
Some places do allow cats to have day release if they’re kept on a lead.
Dr Jacqui Ley, a Melbourne specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine, told the Guardian that some cats like going out for a walk on the lead.
She says they’re just like people, some are even more sociable and outgoing, but some like to stay home.
However, for feline owners, the RSPCA recommended that it is crucial you attach this to a harness rather than a collar if you do decide to walk your cat on a lead.
"Cats can easily slip out of collars or may choke if they escape and become entangled", it said.
