A Cornwall father of six is facing assault and animal cruelty charges after an alleged string of incidents over a 10-year period.

Cornwall police said they arrested a 37-year-old man at his home on Monday following an investigation by their sexual assault and child abuse unit.

Police allege he repeatedly hit and kicked his six children, ranging in age from infancy to 16, while also striking them with household items and threatening them if they told anyone.

He also allegedly twisted one of his child’s wrists, causing them to seek medical attention, threatened to burn the house down while one of the children was inside, choked one of the children, killed a family cat with a "blunt object" and tried to hang a dog with a leash.

Police said these alleged incidents happened between 2004 to June 2014.

He is facing 25 charges including 10 counts of assault with a weapon, five counts of assault, four counts of intimidation, killing an animal and cruelty to an animal.

The man, whose name is not being released as it could identify his family, is being held for a bail hearing.