Kitten found stuffed in duct-taped lunch box tests positive for crystal meth

A couple was arrested after police found their kitten stuffed into a sandwich container that was duct-taped shut.

The kitten was badly bruised and weighed only a pound when she was found in Utah, US. She was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic.

She later tested positive for methamphetamine, one of the two drugs the couple had in their possession.

Justin Epperson, 45, and Emily Allred, 41, were arrested early Monday in Cottonwood Heights, right outside of Salt Lake City.

The duo was charged with animal torture and posession and use of a controlled substance and drug paraphernelia.

READ MORE: Utah 'nightmare neighbor' woman targets interracial family

Police first came across the couple as they were slumped over in a car that was illegally camping in the city, according to KTVX.

They found meth and fentanyl in the car, but they also heard meowing from the inside.

Officers were horrified when they found the kitten with "feces all over it" in the tiny plastic box, according to court documents. Her head was popping out of one of the triangular ends.

She had head trauma, singed fur on her face, brusing on her temple and an eye injury.

Despite this, she is said to have made a "remarkable" recovery in just 24 hours at Angel Paws Animal Services.

"Once we got word that there were drugs in the car, we did a urinary test on her for various drugs, and she came up positive for methamphetamine," said the medical director of the animal clinic. "We determined that although she was exposed, she wasn’t showing any sign of intoxication."

In Utah, torturing a companion animal is a third-degree felony.

Third-degree felonies in Utah are punishable by up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.