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A Gatineau, Que., man will be checking into jail as soon as police receive a warrant for his arrest over his refusal to pay a fine and court costs for an unlicensed cat.

Dan Smith, 65, owes $276 since his conviction last summer for breaching a municipal bylaw. He was told to expect to serve one day in jail for every $25 owing, so he’s looking at 11 days.

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What irks the retired refrigeration technician is that no one would accept his explanation that “Winnie” doesn’t belong to him and is a feral cat. He said Winnie belongs to his “estranged” wife, Elizabeth Smith, with whom he still shares a Gatineau home, though he also has his own place in Vanier.

Look, I told you I don’t own a cat. Will you get the hell out of here?

When the SPCA officer arrived at their home in September 2014 over a complaint that he had an unlicensed cat on the premises, he said he explained there was a licensed dog in the house — a black lab named Atticus — but not a cat.

The SPCA officer insisted he knew he had a cat, too, and an unlicensed one. Smith finally allowed: “Maybe my wife does.” The officer told him he had 10 days to get the $30 licence or face a $100 fine.