A Kent woman who failed to get vet treatment for her cat who was suffering from dental disease and an ear infection has been banned from keeping animals for five years.
Frances Lambourne of Queens Lodge, Third Avenue, Margate, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Folkestone Magistrates Court on September 5.
As well as the disqualification, the defendant was placed on a community order for 12 months under which she will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
Lambourne owned a black male cat called Panther who was found outside her former home at Downs Road, Canterbury, on March 28 last year by RSPCA Inspector Grace Harris-Bridge, who was investigating after a member of the public reported an underweight cat to the charity’s cruelty line.
The cat was sitting outside the block of flats and smelt very strongly of infection, to such an extent that the inspector said in a statement to the court that she “smelt the cat before she saw him”.
“I recognised the cat from a previous visit in 2022 when I issued an Animal Welfare Assessment notice to the owner,” added the RSPCA inspector. “The cat appeared very underweight with his hips, spine, pelvis and ribs visible and very prominent.”
A check with neighbours revealed that the owner had moved out from her property, so the inspector took the feline for urgent veterinary treatment after which Kent Police took possession of him.
A vet report stated Panther would have been suffering with toothache because of the dental disease for at least five months, and she also had a flea infestation and an ear inflammation. She was treated with painkillers and given flea and worm treatment, after which she made a good recovery and she will be rehomed by the animal charity.
In mitigation, the court was told Lambourne had not been able to afford vet treatment because she was on a low income and she was remorseful.
The defendant also has to pay court costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £154.
