Melbourne: A 43-year-old Australian woman has been convicted of animal cruelty for abandoning 14 cats inside her house for so long that they resorted to eating each other.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says in a distressing case of abandonment, the woman left behind her 14 cats when she left her Woodville West property in Australia.
By the time inspectors arrived at the house in September last year, 13 of the cats were dead and the only surviving animal was severely emaciated, the SBS reported.
"The remains of the other 13 cats were spread throughout the house. It was a devastating sight," chief inspector Andrea Lewis said.
The woman was convicted in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday where she was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and banned from owning animals indefinitely.
The court took into account her mental health issues and the fact she spent two weeks in custody after failing to attend earlier court hearings.
Lewis said the one surviving cat, which had been named Trooper, had recovered and been rehomed.
She said if pet owners could no longer care for their animals they should seek help from family, friends or neighbours, contact their local council or take them to an animal shelter.
"You simply cannot abandon animals. You have a responsibility for their wellbeing," she said.
