A man from South Shields has been sentenced after failing to seek vet treatment for his pet cat’s injured and infected eye.
Saleh Ali of Coquet Avenue, South Shields, was sentenced at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on November 12.
In May this year, Inspector Helen Nedley attended Mr Ali’s home following a report about an injured cat. The cat wasn’t in the property so, following a search of the area, the RSPCA officer managed to coax the three-year-old white and tabby cat called Nora into a cat carrier for a closer examination.
Inspector Nedley said: “I could see from a distance that the cat had injuries to its eye and face. The area around the cat’s left eye was pink with small scabs around the eyelid and it was not open as much as the right eye. The cat looked to have a crater-like hole in the corner of its left eye and it was dripping with discharge.
“Nora also had scratches on his nose with a small scabby flap of skin hanging off the right side of the nose. The cat’s face looked misshapen and the bridge of the nose looked swollen too.”
Nora was taken back to Ali to explain the situation before Inspector Nedley took the cat to a vets for an urgent examination.
The court heard that Ali’s neighbours claimed Nora had been attacked by a dog prior to the RSPCA’s visit, however, this could never be established and further information suggested that attack could have happened much earlier than the injury occurred. The owner said he didn’t take the cat to the vets at the time of the injury as the feline was still eating, drinking and was ‘bright in himself’.
Ali had images of Nora following his injury which showed the cat with both eyes closed and yellow, cloudy discharge coming from the left eye which was also covered in bloody scratches. There was also a small but deep-looking wound on the right side of the cat’s nose.
The vet report confirmed that the bridge of Nora’s nose was slightly swollen with lacerations to the skin which was red and ulcerated. His left eye was also red and inflamed with a wound in the corner and discharge coming from the eye.
The report concluded: “In my opinion,this cat has been suffering and this could have been reduced had the cat been taken to a vet for treatment on the day of the injury..Pain relief and antibiotic treatment would have reduced pain and sped up recovery from infection sooner.”
Inspector Nedley added: “The prolonged suffering of this poor cat could have been avoided had the owner sought veterinary treatment as soon as they realised the cat was injured. Thankfully, Nora was able to get the treatment he needed and made a full recovery in RSPCA care.”
Ali pleaded guilty and no mitigation was provided.
He was banned from keeping cats for five years, was sentenced to a 12 month community order and was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £350 and a £130 Victim Surcharge.
