Kurt Zouma has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act after a video emerged of him allegedly kicking and slapping his cat.

The West Ham defender will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday alongside his brother Yoan Zouma for a first hearing.

Yoan is alleged to have filmed the incident on February 6 and has been charged with two counts of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Kurt Zouma to commit an offence.

Kurt Zouma is charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Echo: Dagenham defender Yoan Zouma, the brother of West Ham's Kurt Zouma, has been charged under the Animal Welfare Act, his club have said. Credit: PADagenham defender Yoan Zouma, the brother of West Ham's Kurt Zouma, has been charged under the Animal Welfare Act, his club have said. Credit: PA

The 27-year-old France international is also charged with not taking reasonable steps to protect the animal from pain, suffering, injury or disease.

Two cats belonging to Zouma are still currently under the care of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

West Ham fined their player £250,000 following the incident and also made donations to nine animal welfare charities in the UK and abroad.

Kurt Zouma was also terminated from his adidas sponsorship contract following the video and Yoan was suspended by Dagenham in February.