Chelsea Brown, 35, of Tyne Walk, was banned from owning pets for five years and ordered to pay a £200 fine and £480 costs at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on July 23 after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to two cats. One cat died as a result of being left without food or water, while the other weighed half its expected body weight when rescued.
Discovery and Rescue
The RSPCA was alerted by a gas engineer who reported that two cats at Brown's address were underweight and unattended. Inspector Heidi Cleaver visited and sealed the doors, leaving a calling card. The next day, the seals were unbroken, indicating no one had cared for the animals. Two days later, on September 20 last year, the inspector returned with police and found one cat dead and the other hiding on top of kitchen cupboards.
Condition of the Cats
Both cats were covered in fleas and visibly underweight. A vet determined the black and white cat may have died from choking and was emaciated. The tabby had a body condition score of one out of nine, indicating serious poor health, and weighed just 2.5kg—about half the expected weight. The surviving cat was also dehydrated, anaemic, and infested with fleas.
Court Outcome
Brown failed to attend RSPCA interviews. In mitigation, the court heard she had mental health issues. The surviving cat has been rehomed and named Oscar. Inspector Cleaver said: "These two cats were left without food or water and, were it not for a member of the public intervening, both would likely have died in that property. We are so grateful he contacted us."
