Fifty cats living in dire conditions, many confined in outdoor cages amidst their own faeces and urine, have been rescued by the RSPCA from a property in Mountain Ash, Wales.
Thirty-five cats were rescued in October 2023, followed by another 15 in February 2024, from the same property. The occupants of the property had previously been banned by the courts from keeping cats.
The majority of the cats had been kept in cramped metal cages filled with cat faeces and urine, creating a filthy and unhealthy environment.
Pauline Perry, residing on High Street in Mountain Ash, appeared in Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on 31 October 2023 for trial. She was charged with four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, including breaching an animal ban that had been imposed by Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court in August 2023, which prohibited her from keeping any animals for four years.
Perry also pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a black male cat by failing to provide necessary veterinary care for his lesions, and to failing to ensure the needs of 35 cats were met. Additionally, she was found guilty of neglecting to ensure the needs of 15 other cats were met.
At her sentencing on 29 November 2023, Perry was handed a lifetime ban from keeping animals and a 10-week custodial sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £154. Perry was required to reside at her home address during the suspended sentence period.
The case came to light after RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper received reports in September 2023 that Perry and Thomas were continuing to keep cats despite the court ban. On 28 September, DCI Cooper attended the property but received no response. She left a disqualification order leaflet and a form offering assistance with rehoming the cats.
DCI Cooper returned on 18 October with the Cynon Taf Community Housing Group (CTCHG) and fellow RSPCA Inspector Neill Manley. Upon inspecting the property, they found the cats in small, dirty cages, with blankets and branches attempting to hide the cages, but the cats were still exposed to rain. The strong smell of cat urine was overwhelming, even outdoors. Many cats appeared underweight, and some were covered in faeces.
Following the discovery, the cats were removed from their cages and transferred to carriers. While inside to complete paperwork, DCI Cooper heard a cat meowing from a cupboard under the stairs. A ginger and white cat was found in the cupboard, an area known to be used for housing cats, despite repeated advice not to do so.
In total, 35 cats were removed from the property and taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for assessment. However, the situation worsened when, on 9 February 2024, DCI Cooper and South Wales Police returned to the property after receiving a call about more cats. In the kitchen, they discovered additional crates and carriers full of cats in similar appalling conditions. Two more cats were found in the cupboard under the stairs, bringing the total to 15.
Most of the cats were covered in urine and faeces, with no access to proper hygiene facilities or water. They were promptly taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for further care.
In a statement, DCI Cooper shared her frustration with the ongoing neglect, noting that she had visited the property numerous times over the years, often without receiving a response. One cat found with a tumor was sadly euthanized on veterinary advice, while the others were treated for minor medical needs and socialized.
DCI Cooper emphasized the challenges the cats faced after being so accustomed to their confined spaces, noting that it took some time for them to adjust to having space to roam. However, with proper care and socialization, the cats made significant progress and have now been placed in loving homes.
“We are pleased to have helped these cats find better lives,” said DCI Cooper. “While they struggled initially, the progress they made shows the impact of proper care, and we are happy that they are now in their forever homes.”
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