FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A Franklin County man is accused of severely injuring his girlfriend’s kitten to the point the cat needed emergency medical attention, Troopers say.

Robert Clem, 75, of Greencastle, got frustrated with the kitten and kicked it while saying “get the **** out of my way” inside a home located at the 14000 block of Mercersburg Road, State Police at Chambersburg said in the charges filed.

The cat suffered multiple injuries to its head and State Police noted its eyes were “not normal” and diverging. Troopers also noted the kitten could not close its mouth.

Because the cat was in need of emergency care, it was taken to Mountain View Animal Hospital in Hagerstown for treatment, the charges show.

A doctor told Troopers that the cat had suffered head trauma but it should recover. The charges show that Troopers were told the cat had also hit a door after it was kicked.

A Pennsylvania Humane Officer reported after seeing the cat at the animal hospital that the “actions of Clem intentionally striking the cat did risk the cat of injuries of serious bodily injury and death,” the criminal complaint says.

Clem faces felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals – torture, and aggravated cruelty to animals – causing serious bodily injuries or death. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.

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Clem is out on unsecured bail set at $50,000 and awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 20.

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