Don't f**k with cats: Internet erupts in outrage after Saudi YouTuber 'microwaves kitten'

The 18-year-old posted the video on YouTube, where he has over 6.6 million followers, prompting outrage for encouraging the torture of animals.

While he did not actually switch on the microwave with the kitten inside, he has been slammed for joking about it and alluding to his followers, who are mostly a young audience, that he would actually harm the animal.

Many took to social media using the Arabic hashtag #Dyler_tortures_cat to voice outrage, while others reported the video, which has since been taken down by YouTube. 

"I want @YouTube to check all the content creators specially young kids, , #dyler did post a vlog about 'having a kitten in a microwave for 30 seconds' and lets see what happenes to that kitten?!!! @YouTube this guys has millions of kids followers who blindly follow him," one Twitter user said. 

"This Dyler is an animal abuser he put his own cat on the kitchen microwave," another user said.  

"There is no good when you microwave a cat and its really really inhuman. Please stop dyler and his fans from microwaving innocent creatures. Stop this violence and stop this ignorance," another user said.

The backlash promoted Dyler to release a video that showed his pet was well.

"I am upset by one thing, which is not that I actually microwaved my kitten because I did not, but there are half a million animals burning in Australia, but no one spoke about that! A hashtag wasn't created for that!" the influencer said, referring to the one billion animals estimated to have died in the Australian bushfires.

Despite his clarification, many remained angry and called for his punishment. 

"This is not accepted he should be punished for what he did! you can't make fun of pets just to gain a huge number of viewers," a Twitter user said. 

Practices seen as cruelty towards animals are punishable by law in Saudi Arabia. 

Animal rights violators could face a prison sentence or a fine between 60,000 Saudi Riyal [$15,000] and 400,000 Saudi Riyal [$107,000].

In 2018, Dyler was investigated by Saudi authorities over a video he posted that was deemed "indecent" in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

The social media star had posted a bathroom prank in which his friend recorded himself walking in on Dyler using the bathroom.

The video received 200,000 views before it was taken down.

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