A woman whose pedigree cats were found emaciated and living in squalor has been banned for keeping animals for five years.
The smell of ammonia was so strong at the property in Northallerton that the RSPCA inspector who rescued the animals last December had to keep going outside to catch his breath.
Janice Lawson, who’s 69 and also known as Janice Banthorpe and Janice Atkinson, was handed the ban at a sentencing hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court.
The inspector went to the bungalow at Byland Place, Northallerton, on 21 December after concerns were raised about animals living there.
The door was answered by Lawson who said that “all her cats were fine”.
The inspector told the court: “When the door was fully opened there were a large amount of flies present in the address and there were faeces on the floor of the property.
“I could then see three Siamese type cats within an animal crate and sat amongst faeces. One in particular caused me concern due to the fact it had an obvious eye infection.
“On being invited into the property the smell was disgusting and I saw another cream-coloured siamese type cat and upon touching this cat by hand, it was very underweight.
“I contacted North Yorkshire Police asking for assistance. Police attended and also accessed the house.
“It was found to be cluttered with rubbish and clothing and I found seven cats inside. They all appeared to be in poor bodily condition and some looked to have eye infections.”
Enquiries by the RSPCA revealed that a cat who Lawson said she had taken to a vet to be put to sleep was already dead when she arrived at the practice and was described by staff as “emaciated.”
A further two cats who initially could not be caught at the property, as well as 14 birds including two budgerigars, five kakariki and seven cockatiels living in dirty cages, were also subsequently removed by the police and the RSPCA.
The vet who examined the animals said six of the seven oriental type cats were emaciated.
The thinnest adult male weighed just 1.5 kg (3.30 pounds), whereas a cat of his age and breed should have been over 4kg (8.81 pounds), said the vet.
Many of the birds had damaged tail feathers and overgrown claws. Their cages were filthy.
The vet said the cats had been suffering for at least one month because Lawson had failed to give them enough food. They had not been protected from disease and neither them or the birds had been provided with an adequate environment.
All of the cats quickly put on weight in the days and months that followed with the appropriate care, the court heard.
Lawson, who in mitigation was said to have health issues, pleaded guilty to three offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act.
As well as the ban, she was given a two-year community order to include 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and costs of £300.
District Judge Marie Mallan said she did not feel that Lawson was completely beyond rehabilitation in terms of her attitude towards animals, hence the five year disqualification order which she cannot apply to have lifted within this time.
Hatchi, Aubrey and Bailey are currently being cared for by the RSPCA’s York, Harrogate & District Branch. They are closely bonded and will need an indoor home together.
