K Ganesh, 41, a contract worker, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him before Judge Rasyihah Ghazali.
Ganesh was accused of ruthlessly causing unnecessary suffering to the feline at a self-service laundrette in Taman Gombak Ria, Batu Caves, between 12.54am and 1am on Sept 11.
The charge, under Section 29 (1) (e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a jail term of up to three years or both, upon conviction.
Rasyihah allowed Ganesh bail of RM12,000 in one surety and required him to surrender his passport to the court and to report to the nearest police station twice a month.
Ganesh, represented by lawyer P Rajsurian, asked for a low amount to be set as bail as he was the sole breadwinner in the family.
On Sept 20, taxi driver A Mohanraj, 41, and technician S Satthiya, 26, had also claimed trial to the same charge.
Earlier, the court allowed the application by lawyer Rajsurian, representing Mohanraj, to reduce the bail from RM18,000 to RM12,000 in one surety, together with additional conditions similar to that for Ganesh.
The court fixed Nov 16 for mention of the case.
DPP Nurul Ain Shafie and Roslan Mohd Isa, prosecuting officer from the Selangor Veterinary Services Department, conducted the prosecution.