CONVICTED (2024) | kitten breeder Neil Andrew Cain, born 17 March 1962, of Beacon View, The Broadway, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight PO39 0BU – kept six cats with untreated ailments in insanitary conditions and failed to provide them with fresh water.
Cain’s six cats were found to have a catalogue of health conditions including eye disease, rectal prolapse, flea and worm burdens, none of which had been treated by a vet. The pets were also living in an unhygienic and hazardous environment without fresh water.
In addition, they were left unattended for a four day period without supervision or their welfare needs being met.
Two kittens had to have eyes removed and one sadly had to be put to sleep by a vet because of the severity of ill health.
The case was described as involving prolonged neglect in a commercial context, and there was evidence of Cain selling kittens.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Kane Goodyear, who helped to investigate for the animal welfare charity, said:
“The majority of the kittens looked to have eye issues, they were squinting and their eyelids appeared very swollen with a lot of discharge.
“Also, one of the black kittens has what looked to be a prolapse, it looked like part of the kittens bowel was protruding from its backend, it looked incredibly painful.
“I was extremely concerned for their welfare.”
The surviving cats have recovered in the care of the RSPCA and were signed over in court to enable them to be found new homes by the charity.
Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; 150 hours of unpaid work; £154 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires August 2029).