Shocking pictures reveal how couple let 73 cats live in squalor
Some cats were in such poor condition they had to be put down
Charlotte TurnerSenior reporter
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An estranged couple have been banned from keeping animals for life after 73 cats in their care were left to live in squalor.
David and Penelope O'Dell, of Pendrim Road in East Looe, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the welfare of the huge amount of cats.
Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard that the flat the 73 cats were kept in was "thick with fur", had 10 litter trays overflowing with faeces and smelt so strongly of ammonia that RSPCA officers had to wear special masks inside the property.
The flat where 73 cats were rescued from by the RSPCA (Image: RSPCA)
As a result of the neglect, a number of cats had to be put down because they were too poorly, the court heard.
A vet who had prepared a report for the RSPCA said there were "far too many cats" in one area.
She said: "[It was a] mixed sex group - one [cat] had an early pregnancy [found on spaying], one had an infected womb and another [had subsequently] given birth to twins.
The floor was thick with cat hair and the skirting boards were covered in dirt (Image: RSPCA)
"Medical issues were not addressed - 13 [cats] needed extraction of teeth."
Sixteen cats were so badly matted that they needed grooming under anaesthetic and 35 of the felines had mites or ear problems.
Ten cats had severe eye infections including one which had a corneal ulcer and had to have its eye removed.
Some of the cats which were rescued (Image: RSPCA)
A Manx cat, Piri Piri, had a painful prolapsed rectum which a vet operated on twice but she had to be euthanized. The vet estimated that Piri Piri had suffered for about 46 weeks.
The vet's report added: "There was extensive damage to walls and door frames, [the] carpet [was] threaded and deep in fur. [There was] cat faecal matter around generally.
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"[This was a] typical hoarding situation, the cats were subjected to a very stressful life, [and this] affected their immunity."
There was no ventilation and the cats were living in crowded conditions (Image: RSPCA)
The RSPCA was alerted to concerns about the cats in September last year.
They returned for an appointment with the O'Dell's on September 7 when they found the shocking conditions the cats had been living in.
Lindi Meyer, for the RSPCA, said: "Some [cats] were petrified and hid in rotten draws. [There was] nowhere clean [for the cats] to toilet or any clean area to lie down. Some were mating. None [of the cats were] neutered. [There was] no ventilation.
"Health issues were clear - many had fleas, some had swollen ears, infected eyes, some [were] matted, some were very thin."
(Image: RSPCA)
In his interview, David O'Dell said he wasn't responsible for the cats, but was looking after both Penelope O'Dell and the cats because she had broken her leg 16 weeks before the hoard was rescued.
The court heard that Penelope O'Dell "checked the cats regularly" because they were "her life", but because of her leg injury, she was physically unable to go to David's flat and check on them whilst she was recovering.
The estranged couple, who are both in their 70s, said they weren't aware of the overpowering ammonia smell in the flat.
A cat clawing at the wall (Image: RSPCA)
Ms Meyer added that the pair were "well-intentioned but [had given] completely incompetent care", stating that all of the cats were suffering to various degrees resulting in a number which had to be euthanized.
Both the O'Dell's told the court that they had been through troubling times with family bereavements and poor health in the lead up to the cats being rescued.
In a statement, David O'Dell wrote: "I can only agree the flat was unsuitable for the cats. [I had] poor health, a lack of money and bereavement. [I was] not able to keep [the] property up to standard. If animals did suffer I'm sorry."
Penelope O'Dell said that she "genuinely didn't know" what to do about her situation.
In her statement, she wrote: "I love my cats [and I have] cared for them diligently.
"Unfortunately when [my] mum died [the] property deteriorated and [I had] too many cats.
Blizzard and Wildfire in their new home (Image: Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home)
"I was embarrassed as to how the flat had deteriorated as a whole. I didn't want to invite anyone in, not even family.
"I'm heartbroken and devastated. I never want something like this to happen again."
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David O'Dell admitted failing to take the steps to ensure the needs of the 73 cats by providing a suitable environment and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of all 73 cats by failing to meet the need to prevent pain, suffering, or care for them appropriately.
Penelope O'Dell also admitted to the same two charges as well as a third charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide adequate veterinary care.
Chair of the bench of magistrates, Mr Kirby-Welch said: "[Over a] prolonged period [you] caused considerable ill treatment and neglect which resulted in death, serious injury, and untold suffering."
The pair were handed a 12 week suspended prison sentence for 18 months, and ordered to pay £450 each.
The O'Dell's are also disqualified from owning, keeping, looking after or participating and or being party to any arrangement for any pets for life.
The earliest application they can make to be reconsidered for keeping animals will be in 10 years' time.
Claire Ryder, the RSPCA inspector who handled the case (Image: Charlotte Turner)
RSPCA inspector Claire Ryder, said: "This was a really sad case where things had got totally out of hand.
"There were 75 cats in an environment which was shocking and terrible to live in. Please think about neutering your cats and don't go out and buy a cat, rescue from a shelter."
Ruth Rickard, assistant manager of Gables Farm which took in more than 20 of the cats, added: "The local RSPCA inspectors know that we like to help some difficult and harder to rehome cats and dogs.
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"We work closely with them and are lucky that Gables is so well supported by the public.
"Claire Ryder rang me at first and asked for help with these cats and thought there were about 20, so I said Gables would take 10 - but the next day she said there were over 50 cats living in squalor, so I said we would take 20 just to get them out.
"We emptied our isolation block to accommodate the cats together in pairs just in case there were any health problems.
"Inside the house was horrific, the smell was just a stench of ammonia and cat faeces. There was nowhere clean for the cats to sit and they were terrified and just running around. We quickly, gently and carefully caught 20 cats.
"The cats were so matted they all had to be shaved under sedation and several had claws so long they were embedded into their feet.
Two of the rescued cats in their new home (Image: Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home)
"We then agreed to take the last four a couple of days later as there was nowhere else for them to go.
"We have rehomed all but two - Inferno is in a temporary foster home as [he] needed extra TLC and Flyover is at Gables.
"The first month we cared for them with a hands off approach - gradually with lots of patience and cat treats they started to get braver and affectionate."