Two men caught on CCTV 'killing pregnant cat by roasting it in tumble dryer'

Pair have now been charged with animal cruelty and face three years in jail if found guilty

Police have charged two men with animal cruelty after they appear to have been caught on CCTV killing a pregnant cat by putting it into a laundry dryer.

Footage appears to show the pair putting the cat inside the machine before switching it on at a laundrette in Malaysia.

The duo briefly watch it suffer before leaving. Police said the animal was “roasted” alive.

If found guilty of the charge, they face up to three years in prison.

A third man is now also being sought in connection with the incident, reports Channel News Asia.

A spokesperson for the Royal Malaysia Police, in the town of Gombak, just north of Kuala Lumpur, told the broadcaster: "Two of the three men wanted by police for killing a pregnant cat by roasting it in a self-service laundromat dryer were arrested.”

The surveillance film shows one of the men grabbing the apparently friendly cat by its neck while the other holds the door of the dryer open. They place it inside and then go and look out into the street.

With the coast clear of other people, they put coins into the machine, activate it and stay to watch for a few seconds. The cat was later found dead by another customer.

The case has sparked outrage in Malaysia with animal protection groups releasing the pictures online in a bid to catch the culprits.