Ryan Havens Tannenholz
Ryan Tannenholz regularly dressed up as a dog he calls Bubblegum Husky for sex with a cat.

An Idaho man has been arrested after allegedly having sexual intercourse with a cat on a regular basis for a year.

Ryan Tannenholz, who was said to have dressed up as a dog he called Bubblegum Husky, was accused of abusing the cat numerous times between January 2012 and January 2013.

According to Idaho Statesman, the 28-year-old from Boise has been charged with crimes against nature and cruelty to an animal.

He faces a minimum of five years in prison if found guilty.

Police do not know if the abused cat belonged to Tannenholz and would not say how they learned about the suspect's alleged behaviour.

Boise Police Department spokesman Charles McClure called the charge "unusual". Only one or two similar cases had been reported in his eight years with the department, he said.

Local reports suggested that Tannenholz was a member of the "furry fandom" community. He was said to be a "fursuiter" - someone who wears animal fur suits - and portrayed himself as a "sparkly" husky, a blue fox named Kismet fox, and another purple canine.

Tannenholzs' bond was set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on 16 August.