Which nation was the first to outlaw animal cruelty?
The first recorded instance of a nation outlawing animal cruelty was in the Roman Empire, where a law was passed in the year 326 AD to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. This law was one of the earliest recorded pieces of legislation aimed at protecting animals and it was significant because it recognized the welfare of animals as a concern for society.
If there were a way to genetically engineer cat girls for domestic ownership - would violent actions against them count as animal cruelty or general violence?
Cross-breads of humans and animals are unethical. How ever in a fictional world it would depend on whether genetically engineered cat girls are considered humans with additional cat-like properties or cats with human like properties. Considering genetically engineered cat girls as shown in Manga art are more like humans with cat like ears, it can be assumed violence against them is considered equivalent to violence against people.