Woman banned from keeping pets after cats rescued from ‘disgusting environment’

'It was the most disgusting environment I had ever experienced.'

A woman has been banned from keeping animals for five years after her cats were found in the most ‘disgusting environment’ an RSPCA officer had ever seen.

Sara Whitton, 52, kept her two flea-ridden cats at her rubbish and faeces-strewn flat in Lupton Walk, Lowedges.

One of the animals was suffering from severe dental disease and was missing 16 teeth.

Shffield Magistrates’ Court heard inspector Jack Taylor visited the property on June 25 last year following welfare concerns and could immediately smell an unpleasant odour from behind the door.

The inspector said he looked through the letterbox and saw a mountain of household rubbish, which was so big it made opening the door difficult.

Whitton was warned by the inspector that the environment was wholly unsuitable for cats to be living in and she was issued with an improvement notice.

But further visits to the property showed conditions had not improved and on August 5 a warrant was carried out with the police and the cats were removed.

Inspector Taylor said: ‘There was household rubbish all over the flat, covering every inch of floor. The kitchen was full of mouldy food piled high.

‘There was a fridge in the living room which was in working order, but it was full of black mouldy food and overflowing so the door couldn’t close. There were multiple bottles of milk that were so old, the contents had solidified inside the cartons.

‘It was the most disgusting environment I had ever experienced, and I could not believe a person could live in this environment, let alone cats.

‘Behind the tv stand in the living room was a huge mound of cat faeces, which the cats had obviously chosen to use as their toilet as the litter tray in the bathroom was still full and overflowing.’

During the rescue, one cat’s, called Sooty, canine teeth came out completely from the root and was kept as evidence.

On examination, female tabby cat Kiki was found to have several bald patches of alopecia which were self-inflicted due to a severe, untreated flea infestation.

The court heard that six days later, Sooty was booked in for a dental procedure under general anaesthetic which revealed severe dental disease was affecting his remaining teeth. Sixteen were missing and had no remaining root left behind, and four were surgically removed.

The vet said: ‘It is my opinion that these cats have suffered because of the owner’s failure to seek veterinary attention, especially for Sooty’s severe dental disease.

‘An accurate period of suffering is difficult to estimate, but due to the chronicity it might have been over six months.

‘In Kiki’s case, the severe flea infestation had caused unnecessary suffering.’

Inspector Taylor made repeated attempts to try and meet Whitton to interview her about the situation but phone calls went unanswered and appointments were missed.

Environmental health officers were also unsuccessful at getting her to engage with them to clean the property.

Whitton admitted two charges contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at a hearing in June and was sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on September 22 following a prosecution by the RSPCA.

In addition to the five year ban on keeping all animals, magistrates also imposed a 12 month Community Order with 20 RAR days, costs of £200 and a Victim Surcharge of £114.

In mitigation, the court heard that Whitton was remorseful and ashamed of the situation. She recognised that she needed help and no longer wished to keep animals.

Inspector Taylor said: ‘The owner of these cats was given ample opportunity to rectify the situation but conditions did not improve and it was simply unacceptable for any animal to be living like that.

‘It wasn’t just the conditions inside the flat. Both cats had not received anything like the right level of care or seen a vet, resulting in them being neglected and suffering from severe dental issues and skin allergies.’

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