A total of 50 cats were removed in 2023 and 2024 from the same Mountain Ash property after many of them were discovered living in crammed cages full of cat faeces and urine. The occupants of the property had already received bans on owning cats.
Initially, 35 cats were rescued from the Rhondda Cynon Taf property in October 2023, with an additional 15 being removed from the property in February 2024. The RSPCA found that several of the rescued cats were “kept and crammed in metal cages which were full of cat faeces and urine.”
David Thomas and Pauline Perry, who lived in Mountain Ash, were subject to a ban on keeping pets imposed by Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on August 23, 2023. This was after they admitted failing to ensure the needs of 11 cats. Thomas was banned from keeping cats for four years while Perry’s four-year ban covered all four-limbed animals.
Many of the cats were kept in crammed cages full of cat urine and faeces.
(Image: RSPCA)
Perry, 57, of High Street, Mountain Ash, once again appeared in Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on October 31, 2024 for trial facing four offences under the Animal Welfare Act. She pleaded guilty to two of the offences and was found guilty of another two. For the latest Rhondda news, sign up to our newsletter here
One of the offences was related to Perry’s breach of the August 2023 ban, while the other offences included causing unnecessary suffering to a black male cat by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for his lesions, failing to take such steps to ensure the needs of 35 cats were met and a final offence of failing to ensure the needs of 15 cats were met.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper told the court that she visited the property on Pentwyn Avenue on September 28, 2023 after the RSPCA received reports that Perry had kept several cats despite being disqualified.
Having had no reply at the address, DCI Cooper posted a disqualification order leaflet and a form informing the occupants that the RSPCA had received reports about them still having cats, and advising them to make contact if they wanted help rehoming them.
On October 18 the DCI returned and met Cynon Taf Community Housing Group (CTCHG) Housing Officers and fellow RSPCA Inspector Neill Manley. She described to the court the terrible conditions she saw at the property.
A cage with a soaked blanket covered with what appears to be cat faeces.
“I walked into the back garden of Pentwyn Avenue and saw adult cats crammed in black metal cages which were full of cat faeces and urine,” she said. “Although there was an obvious attempt to hide these crates with blankets and branches, the cats were still being rained on and the blankets inside the crates were soaking wet.”
She explained further that it was clear to her that the cats had been living in their current state for a long period of time. She said: “Both the crates and the cats smelt very strongly of cat urine, the smell was extremely strong, despite being outside. Some of the cats looked underweight, some had urine stains on their feet and legs and some were matted with what looked and smelt like cat faeces. It was obvious to me these cats have been kept in these conditions for a period of time and it hadn’t just happened. Many of the cats were clearly distressed, they were crying and were jumping up at the side of the crates in an attempt to get out.”
The inspectors were granted permission to remove the cats, after which the animals were transferred to cat carriers. However, the court was told when the inspectors went inside to sign the paperwork, DCI Cooper heard a ‘cat meow’. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter her
This came from a cupboard under the stairs. The court was told it was known for cats to be kept in the cupboard, which was described as “small and dirty” with no light. DCI Cooper said: “I opened the cupboard door and there was a ginger and white cat, standing on the shelf.”
The visit led to 35 cats being removed and taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic to be assessed. However, on a following visit, DCI Copper said she “could not believe” her eyes.
Inspectors were convinced that cats had been living in the conditions for a long time.
(Image: RSPCA)
In a further witness statement, DCI Cooper explained that she paid another visit to the property on February 9, 2024 after another call about more cats at the property — this time with South Wales Police.
She remarked: “As I entered the kitchen I saw crates and cat carriers full of cats. I could not believe my eyes.” This, she said, wasn’t because Perry had been barred from keeping cats, but because of the ‘dirty conditions’ they were living in.
Subsequently, Perry agreed to sign over the cats leading to them being removed and placed in RSPCA carriers. After the cats were removed, Perry was asked whether there were any more cats anywhere else, and she said no. However the RSPCA said two additional cats were found in the cupboard under the stairs.
DCI Cooper said: “The police officer then shone his torch and found a black cat in the cupboard which I then caught and placed in a basket.” When the officer took another look, he found one more cat in the same closet taking the total to 15 cats.
DCI Cooper added: “The majority of the cats were urine stained and had faecal matting in their coat. There were no litter trays provided apart from one which contained no substrate and was piled high with faeces and urine. None of the cats had access to water and they were all lying in their own faeces and urine.”
All of the cats had to be taken to RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic to be assessed. One of the cats was found with a tumour on his tail and was unfortunately put to sleep on veterinary advice, while the other cats need little veterinary treatment apart from a good wash, flea and worm treatments and socialisation, according to the animal charity.
Once rescued, the cats were taken for veterinary care in RSPCA pet carriers.
(Image: RSPCA)
In her witness statement, DCI Cooper stated she has been an inspector from 2010 and has attended the Pentwyn Avenue property about 40-50 times. In half of those visits, she did not receive a reply at the property, while she was able to give advice on other occasions.
Perry was given a lifetime disqualification order for all animals at her sentencing on November 29. She was also given a 10-week custodial sentence which was suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £154. Her suspended sentence order also had conditions, including her residing at her home address.
After the case, DCI Copper said that the cats were now doing well: “The cats were so programmed to being kept in cages it took them a while to get used to having the space to walk around and play. However, once they got used to that and some socialisation, they came on leaps and bounds and we are very happy to have found them loving homes.”