A woman has been banned from keeping cats for three years after police officers found she had more than 40 living in her home.
Police raided Pamela Coombes house in Bristol after her neighbours called the RSPCA and she repeatedly refused to let them in to look around.
Inside, police officers and RSPCA inspectors found what they described as unhygienic and unsuitable for that many cats, and many were ill as a result.
They saw filthy conditions with many of the cats in the Gatcombe Road house in Hartcliffe found to be suffering from cat flu, dental disease and flea infestations.
On November 12, district judge gave Coombes a two-year conditional discharge after deciding the 52-year-old wasn’t being deliberately cruel, just neglectful.
The raid, in August 2018, came after members of the public and local animal charities tried to check on the welfare of the cats, but weren’t allowed in.
“Cats were immediately removed from the premises because of the conditions they were being kept, with some found to have discharge from their eyes and nose, some in poor body condition, and several sneezing,” said an RSPCA spokesperson.
“Vets who assessed the cats found many to be suffering from cat flu, dental disease and flea infestations.
“Conditions in Coombes’ home were described as being unhygienic and unsuitable for animals, with a lack of provision for the number of cats confined in the space,” she added.
She was found guilty of five separate animal welfare offences, and was also ordered to hand over all her cats for rehoming.
“There is no evidence in this matter to suggest that the defendant has been deliberately cruel to animals in her charge; indeed the prosecution is not predicated upon that footing,” said District Judge Anthony Callaway.
“However, it is well established and indeed the subject of discussion in the evidence, that the welfare of animals can be challenged, not from acts of mendacious cruelty, but from neglect, a desire to help too many animals to the extent that the care of others may be jeopardized by further additions and cruelty, not inflicted deliberately, but on the contrary, cruelty borne of kindness,” he added.
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