CONVICTED (2017) | Caasi I McCrindle, born c. 1991, of Masonic Close, Elgin IV30 1EJ – left a cat inside an empty property with no access to food or water
The abandoned cat, Albus, was found by the Scottish SPCA after the animal charity was alerted by a member of the public who had heard the cat’s distressed meowing.
Senior inspector Alison Simpson said the cat had begun destroying furniture in a search for food and had to be fed through a letterbox.
When officers got inside, they discovered the flat was strewn with faeces, urine and household debris.
Albus was “absolutely ravenous” when rescued and continued to be obsessed with food after finding a new home.
McCrindle admitted abandoning the animal between April 16 and 18, 2016.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins said that when the Scottish SPCA and council officers went into her flat, there was a mountain of unopened mail dating back to April 7.
Mr Corrins added: “When the cat was with the vet it consumed a substantial amount of food – as much as it was allowed at the time.
“In the 10 days the cat was with the SSPCA it put on about 1kg in weight.”
McCrindle eventually contacted her landlord, Moray Council, on April 25 to get keys for the new locks at her home.
Defence solicitor Brent Lockie said his client had been suffering from mental health difficulties at the time due to her parents’ divorce.
He said: “She simply was not well at the time but is a lot better now. She wouldn’t have acted in this manner if it were not for the underlying issues.
“She took over the cat from someone who could not cope with it and got herself in this position.”
Scottish SPCA inspector Alison Simpson said: “We hope this sends out a significant message that it is totally unacceptable to leave animals unattended without consequences.
“This cat was lucky that a concerned member of the public alerted us to the situation.”
Sentencing: £320 fine. Banned from owning animals for two years (expired 2019).
Another Mentally Disturbed Scum.
Absolutely Heart Breaking.