Woman prosecuted over 'emaciated' Siamese cats

The court heard a group of three Siamese cats were found sat among faeces at Lawson's home

A woman who kept seven pedigree cats and 14 aviary birds in "squalid conditions" at her bungalow in North Yorkshire has been disqualified from keeping animals for five years.

Janice Lawson, 69, was handed the ban at Teesside Magistrates' Court on 9 September, after pleading guilty to three offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act at an earlier hearing.

The animals were found by an RSPCA inspector in a bungalow on Byland Place, Northallerton, on 21 December.

The inspector told the court: "There was a large amount of flies present with faeces on the floor of the property. I could see three Siamese-type cats in an animal crate sat among faeces."

In a written statement to the court the inspector, who found a total of seven cats inside, said: "The house smelt so strongly of ammonia that at times it took my breath away and I went outside for some fresh air."

He added: "On being invited into the property the smell was disgusting and I saw another cream-coloured Siamese cat which was very underweight."

The court heard Lawson failed to provide a "suitable environment, diet and conditions" for the animals in her care

The court was told police called to the property found it to be cluttered with rubbish and clothing. The court also heard all the animals were discovered to be in poor condition, with some suffering from eye infections.

A further two cats, who initially could not be caught at the property, as well as 14 birds, including two budgerigars, five kakariki and seven cockatiels living in dirty cages, were also subsequently removed by the police and the RSPCA.

According to the RSPCA, the vet who examined the animals found the thinnest adult male weighed just 3.3lbs (1.5kg), whereas a cat of its age and breed should have weighed more than 8.8lbs (3.9kg).

'Emaciated'

The court heard Lawson, also known as Janice Banthorpe and Janice Atkinson, also kept many birds with damaged tail feathers and overgrown claws.

According to the RSPCA their cages were "filthy with a heavy build-up of droppings and spent seed".

The vet said the cats had been suffering for at least one month because Lawson had failed to give them enough food. They had not been protected from disease and neither them or the birds had been provided with an adequate environment.

The vet also described six of the seven oriental-type cats as "emaciated".

All of the cats quickly put on weight in the days and months that followed with the appropriate care, the court heard.

Lawson, who in mitigation was said to have mental and physical health issues, was also given a two-year community order to include 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and costs of £300.

District Judge Marie Mallan said she did "not feel that Lawson was completely beyond rehabilitation in terms of her attitude towards animals", hence the five-year disqualification order which she cannot apply to have lifted within this time.

The cats were all signed over by Lawson and some have already been rehomed by the RSPCA.

The birds were all rehomed by the RSPCA, apart from four kakariki, that are being cared for at a private establishment on behalf of the RSPCA.

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