Marissa Faultless, 68, had previously been disqualified from owning cats after nearly 100 were rescued from her home on Tower Road, Sutton Coldfield, where inspectors found “appalling conditions.”
Despite the ban, Faultless was discovered with nine cats just a day after her sentence was handed down at Birmingham Crown Court last April. Concerned neighbours continued to see cats at the property throughout the year, prompting authorities to take further action.
A warrant was executed in June this year by police and the RSPCA, who found the cats living in poor conditions once again.
Prosecutor Janita Patel, representing the RSPCA, told Birmingham Magistrates’ Court that the animals were being denied basic care. “The needs of the cats were not met due to a lack of toilet facilities, fresh, clean drinking water, and appropriate food,” she said.
Police body-worn footage captured Faultless calling an RSPCA inspector a “lying, thieving b****” and shouting: “I’m not allowed to love anything. They’re my babies. I can’t live without them.”
She also claimed her probation had ended, but Ms Patel told the court the Crown Court judge had made it “very clear” that she was not permitted to keep or care for cats in any capacity.
Faultless failed to attend her hearing on Wednesday, 5 November, and the case proceeded in her absence. Chair of the Bench Mike Ward confirmed the case against her had been proven and issued a warrant for her arrest. Sentencing will take place at a later date.
In April last year, Birmingham Crown Court heard that almost 100 cats had been rescued from her home on three separate occasions between 2021 and 2023. One kitten was found dead, while others were so ill they had to be euthanised or had their eyes removed due to severe cat flu.
Inspectors described her cluttered property as smelling “like death,” with rubbish piled high in the garden, faeces covering the floors, and an overwhelming stench of urine inside.
Faultless’s defence barrister told the court her behaviour was not “deliberately cruel” and was linked to a mental health disorder.
Judge Peter Carr, sentencing at the time, said Faultless “needed help” as he imposed a 12-month community order and a ten-year ban on keeping cats.
