Damon Fields has been told he can only keep five of the 17 cats after a neighbour filed a complaint about the smell.

However, the North Carolina man claims that his civil rights – and his cats’ rights – are being violated, Newsweek reports.

The assistant county attorney, Sam Shames, told the local Charlotte Observer: “I have never seen a cat listed as a party to a federal lawsuit. This case has a very unusual set of facts.”

As well as the return of all 17 cats, Mr Fields is asking for $2,500 in compensation which he plans to use to build a park for his cats in his back garden.