Don't look now, but there's a cat in the jury box

Boston: Bizarre it may seem, but a cat has been ordered by a US court to do jury service.

And, this is even after the feline's owners, told the Suffolk Superior Crown Court in Boston that the pet, named Tabby Sal, was "unable to speak and understand English".

The cat's owners, Anna and Guy Esposito, wrote to the court to explain that a mistake had been made, but a jury commissioner replied saying the feline "must attend" on March 23, 'The Daily Telegraph' online reported.

The Espositos had included a letter from their vet confirming that the cat was "a domestic short-haired neutered feline".

Tabby Sal had been entered by Esposito under the "pets" section of the last census. "When they ask him guilty or not guilty? What's he supposed to say -- miaow?" Anna said.

"Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last Census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up," she said.

Her husband, Guy, said the summons for juror service was a surprise. "I said, 'Sal, what's this?' I was shocked. He likes to sit on my knee and watch crime shows with me but even so he's still under-qualified for jury duty if you ask me."

A website for the US judicial system states that jurors are "not expected to speak perfect English".