A cat had to be euthanized after an Ealing couple refused to seek treatment for a severe facial wound. Razia Mahmoud and Younus Mahmoud, from Townholm Crescent, left their cat, Fluffy, with a large wound on the left side of his face. The injury, likely caused by a fight with another cat or a fox, became infected and was left untreated.
In April last year, a concerned neighbor alerted the RSPCA after noticing that Fluffy wasn’t receiving the necessary care. Inspector Mike Beaman described arriving at the property and spotting Fluffy in the garden. He noted the cat’s injury appeared infected, smelled foul, and possibly involved his eye.
After speaking with the couple, the owners agreed to take Fluffy to a vet. The examination revealed a deep wound down to the bone, and Fluffy was found to weigh only 2.87kg. Further examination showed that Fluffy had a low body condition score of 2/9, indicating significant weight loss. He had minimal muscle mass, a pronounced abdomen, and visible ribs and spine. The wound was about 4cm in diameter, foul-smelling, and Fluffy was also found to be dehydrated with an intestinal worm burden.
The RSPCA’s report stated, “A chronic wound of this nature would have caused the animal physical stress due to inflammation, disruption of blood supply, leading to necrosis which is inevitably painful, and in turn causing suffering.” Fluffy also displayed psychological stress, aggression, and a failure to carry out natural behaviors like grooming and eating, further deteriorating his condition.
Tragically, Fluffy had to be put down to relieve his suffering. Inspector Beaman expressed his sorrow, saying, “It’s hard to imagine the amount of pain Fluffy must have been going through.”
During a trial at Willesden Magistrates’ Court, the Mahmouds pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. They were both sentenced to a 12-month community order. Razia Mahmoud was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £314 in costs, while Younus Mahmoud was fined £450 in lieu of unpaid work and also ordered to pay £314 in costs. Both were disqualified from owning cats for 10 years.
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