Kurt Zouma, a West Ham defender, will appear in Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on May 24 after being charged under the Animal Welfare Act.
In February, Zouma, 27, had one of his pet cats taken after he was seen on tape kicking one of them.
His brother, Yoan, a Dagenham & Redbridge footballer, shot the footage that went viral on social media.
Update: West Ham defender Kurt Zouma to appear in court for kicking a cat
Last month, the RSPCA declared their intention to prosecute Zouma, 27, who was caught on camera kicking and slapping his beloved cat.
He has apologized, but the Hammers have fined him two weeks’ salary.
Zouma has been permitted to continue playing football despite the anger.
Since the incident, he’s only missed one Premier League game, when he was reportedly too ill to play against Leicester on February 13th.
Zouma is currently out due to an ankle injury he sustained on April 10 against Brentford. The damage found by scans could keep the defender out for the remainder of the season for West Ham.