This is the sickening moment a thug was caught on CCTV putting three cats into a washing machine.

A horrified local noticed the drowned moggies when they opened the door to load their clothes into the machine in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 13.

She was unable to revive them and called police who arrived at the launderette in the Taman Ehsab district of the capital city to begin an investigation.

Shocked police watched the CCTV which showed a bare-footed man in a tracksuit carrying the cast into the machine.

Police chief Assistant Commissioner Arifai Tarawe said: "The woman informed us of the incident when she went to the laundromat to wash her clothes, but instead found three dead cats in three separate washing machines."

The suspect was later arrested on July 13 after locals pointed to the homeless man whom they believe is the person on the security camera.

The authorities did not reveal the identity of the alleged car killer but they arrested him and took him to the station for questioning.

Police chief Tarawe added that the case will be investigated according to the country's Animal Welfare Act of 2015 which, if found guilty, could sentence the suspect to a fine of up to RM100,000, three years' imprisonment, or both.

President of Malaysia Animal Association Arie Dwi Andika urged the Veterinary Services Department to take strict action.

The charity boss said that the last time a person threw a cat into a self-service launderette dryer was in September 2018. The offender was sentenced to 34 months' jail and fined RM40,000 by the Selayang Sessions Court.