Flea-ridden cats kept in ‘disgusting’ home with piles of poo and mouldy food

RSPCA bosses were left horrified after discovering two flea-ridden cats living in the "most disgusting" faeces-infested flat one officer had ever seen.

The felines' owner, Sara Whitton, has been banned from keeping animals for five years after she admitted two charges contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Her cats, Sooty and Kiki, were also removed from the property, reports YorkshireLive.

RSPCA investigator Jack Taylor visited the 52-year-old's apartment in Lowedges, Sheffield, on June 25, 2022 after concerns over the cats' welfare was raised. Taylor said he could smell an unpleasant odour coming from behind the front door before he even entered the property.

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Peering through the letterbox, the inspector saw mounds of rubbish all over the floor which were piled so high Whitton struggled to open the door for him. The woman was told the flat was not suitable for cats and she was handed an improvement notice.

However after RSPCA investigators returned they found no improvements had been made and a warrant was carried out by police. Describing his second visit, Taylor said: "There was household rubbish all over the flat, covering every inch of floor.

"The kitchen was full of mouldy food piled high. There was a fridge in the living room which was in working order, but it was full of black mouldy food and overflowing so the door couldn’t close.

"There were multiple bottles of milk that were so old, the contents had solidified inside the cartons. It was the most disgusting environment I had ever experienced, and I could not believe a person could live in this environment, let alone cats."

Taylor also recalled seeing a "huge mound" of cat faeces behind the TV stand in the living room, which he assumed the felines had been forced to use as their toilet as their litter tray hadn't been cleared out and was "overflowing".

The two cats were taken from the property following the second inspection. Both were terrified and proved difficult to catch but authorities were eventually able to round them up and take them for medical treatment.

Sooty lost a canine tooth during the rescue. It was found he had a total of 16 teeth missing after succumbing to a severe dental disease. He had to have a further four surgically removed.

Meanwhile Kiki was found to have several bald patches. Vets determined she was suffering from alopecia which she developed as a result of scratching due to a severe, untreated flea infestation.

Giving evidence, vet said: "It is my opinion that these cats have suffered because of the owner’s failure to seek veterinary attention, especially for Sooty’s severe dental disease.

"An accurate period of suffering is difficult to estimate, but due to the chronicity it might have been over six months. The owner should have sought veterinary advice when fresh blood or a strong smell was noticed.

"In Kiki’s case, the severe flea infestation had caused unnecessary suffering."

Whitton was sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on September 22. In addition to the ban on keeping animals, she was also handed a 12-month community order with 20 RAR days, costs of £200 and a Victim Surcharge of £114.

Both cats have now been taken in by theRSPCA’s Doncaster, Rotherham & District Branch.

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