A woman who delayed taking her underweight cat to a vets has been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Jessica Smith of Sunny Bank, Croydon, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, one of failing to address and investigate the weight loss of a cat called Stormy and the other of failing to seek vet treatment for the cat’s urine scalds. The defendant appeared for sentencing at Croydon and Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on January 7 when magistrates also imposed a 12-week jail sentence which was suspended for 12 months.
The court was told that Smith eventually took Stormy to a PDSA Animal Hospital on April 10 last year although the feline’s health had been a concern for two to three weeks previously.
The black and white cat was so poorly that, sadly, a vet decided that the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep.
RPSCA Inspector Harriet Daliday, who attended the hospital, said in a statement to the court: “Stormy was extremely underweight with no obvious fat. All his ribs, hips and his spine could be easily felt and his rear paws had raw open lesions on the pads of the feet.”
The defendant said the cat had been off his food for two weeks and was having problems toileting.
By the time he arrived at the PDSA hospital he was barely able to hold his head up. His body condition score was one out of nine, which is classed as emaciation, and he had urine scalds on his back legs.
The defendant told a vet at the hospital that she was advised to syringe feed the cat. It was said that though she felt Stormy did need to see a vet “she did not have the financial capabilities to make it happen” and it was only in the last days of the cat’s life that she chose to make contact with the PDSA.
A vet at the hospital concluded that Stormy had suffered for a prolonged period of at least three months before his passing and added: “The defendant failed to take reasonable steps to seek veterinary care for her cat and protect him from pain, suffering and disease.”
The court was told the defendant was remorseful and that she had been unable to financially support three children and a sick cat while she was pregnant with a fourth child.
The magistrates ordered Smith to pay court costs of £300.
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Daliday said: “We’d urge pet owners to act swiftly and get prompt veterinary advice if their pet is showing any signs of ill health. For those who find themselves struggling, there are many reputable animal welfare charities who can offer help and advice and we encourage anybody in a difficult situation to seek support.”
