See video of disgusting state of Runcorn flat where seven cats died

Hundreds of fleas jumped out of the letterbox after they had infested the address, where the bodies of seven badly decomposing cats had been living in squalid conditions.

The deceased animals were surrounded by rubbish and overflowing litter trays at the property, which was so full of clutter that some of the rooms were inaccessible.

Six of the cats were so badly decomposed that only their fur and bones remained.

As reported recently by the Runcorn and Widnes World, their owner, Carrie Renwick, who had moved out of the flat in Primrose Close, has now been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after she was prosecuted by the RSPCA for neglecting them.

At Warrington Magistrates’ Court, the 53-year-old was allowed to walk free from court after being sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

The court heard how the deceased animals were removed by RSPCA inspector Nadine Pengilly on July 5 this year.

Police officers had discovered the animals the day before after entering the flat to do a welfare check on the occupant, who was not there.

In her evidence given as part of the case, inspector Pengilly said: “As I approached the front door, I was attacked by hundreds of fleas escaping via the letterbox.

“We went to the back of the property and I could clearly see the flat was in a filthy condition, with overflowing litter trays and bags of rubbish all over the floor.

“The place was full of clutter and there was a mass flea infestation.

“The first room on the right was the bathroom which was dirty and cluttered. I found two dead cats on the floor.

“The first room on the left was the main bedroom, where there was a dead cat on the bed, two in the wardrobe, one near the door and one behind the curtains on the floor.

“The bedroom was cluttered with items and made access hard as I had to climb over bags of shopping.

“The black cat found in the wardrobe looked like he hadn’t been dead long as he still had flesh on his body and was being eaten by maggots.”

RSPCA inspector Leanne Cooper, who also attended the address, added: “There was a foul smell coming from the property that I could smell from standing outside the front door.

“I could see live and dead flies on the windows and hundreds of live and dead fleas. These actually jumped on me when I opened the letterbox.”

The deceased animals were taken into possession by police and their bodies examined by a vet.

The cat found in the wardrobe had died at least 36 hours earlier while, the other six carcasses were dried out and rigid, suggesting they had been dead for some time.

“Decomposition was so marked that the bodies were not suitable for a post mortem examination,” Ms Cooper said.

“Reviewing the carcasses along with the environmental evidence, starvation and dehydration cannot be ruled out as potential causes of death due to the lack of water and fresh food.

“I would expect a responsible owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight.

“Moreover, if their animal became weak or lethargic. Starvation and dehydration cause weakness and debilitation.

“This will have been uncomfortable and severely impacted the cats’ everyday lives and their ability to ambulate, to obtain food or water and even to play.

“Emaciation can cause mental suffering through having a constant hunger that is never fulfilled.

“It is reported to take at least four days for a cat to starve to death – a slow, painful and prolonged process as the body shuts down. This will have been unpleasant.”

Renwick, now of Meadow Row in Runcorn, had previously been given advice by the RSPCA about appropriate flea treatment but had turned down offers of help to rehome the cats.

In mitigation, the court heard she had health and alcohol issues, and in sentencing, a district judge remarked that the defendant caused ‘prolonged suffering to seven cats resulting in their death’.

Renwick was also told she must comply with an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for the next 120 days and complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.