By Emily Caulkett-
A WOMAN who failed to seek treatment for her severely injured cat has been banned from keeping animals for life after an RSPCA investigation.
Michelle Cunliffe admitted subjecting her female black cat to unnecessary suffering in court last month.
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Felix was found in a bin store near Cunliffe’s home at the time on Stanley Road in Leeds, after RSPCA inspectors Kris Walker and Nikki Cheetham paid a visit on the morning of September 15 last year.
The cat was unable to stand and was wincing in pain when she was touched.
After Cunliffe agreed to sign her over to the care of the RSPCA, she was taken to a vets in Bradford, but, due to her poor condition, was put down.
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In a witness statement, Inspector Walker said: “She (the owner) said that Felix had a fit almost a week previously and was off her back legs. She said she’d left her home on September 12 and hadn’t been seen since.”
Inspector Cheetham added: “The cat was very cold, her fur was wet and she was unable to stand. It was clear that she had no use of her back limbs and she was very vocal when touched as if in pain.
“Cunliffe made us aware that the cat was registered at the PDSA vet charity, which was a short distance from the address. But she had not sought any advice from its staff on the cat’s condition.”
An expert report by a veterinary surgeon stated the cat, who was underweight, was unable to use her pelvic limbs with no reflexes or pulses detected.
The court was told that Cunliffe was “very fond of her cat, but had other priorities that day”, it was said.
Magistrates told her: “We didn’t hear anything to suggest that you took responsibility in this life or death situation.”
As well as the ban, at the sentencing on June 22, they told the defendant to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days, as part of a 12-month community order and fined her £100. She also has to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £95.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Walker said: “The bin store we found the cat in was just three or four feet away from the defendant’s property, while she was a four-minute walk away from a PDSA clinic.
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