SA man in court over crossbow cat attack

An Adelaide Hills man shot his neighbour's ginger cat with a crossbow four times, with the pet having to be put down when it was later found, a court has heard.

Shannon Aubert, 35, is accused of shooting the three-year-old cat with four arrows in Callington in July 2016.

Aubert faced Mt Barker Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged by the RSPCA with ill treating an animal to cause death or serious harm.

He did not enter a plea but he indicated he would contest the charge.

It is understood the house cat, named George, was on Aubert's property when it was allegedly shot with a crossbow.

The cat was found alive with arrows protruding from its body and taken to a vet but it was euthanised because of its injuries.

The case will return to court for a pre-trial conference on March 2.