'The sight of the cat collapsed behind the door still haunts me': Couple left kitten covered in filth after 'weeks of suffering'
A couple have been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after leaving a cat trapped in a flat in Willenhall with no food or water for 48 hours.
The one-year-old black cat was found collapsed and covered in faeces and urine when an RSPCA inspector called at Abigail Clemson's former apartment.
An examination by a vet showed the animal, which had not been named by the pair had been suffering for 'several weeks', magistrates heard.
The creature weighed just over 2lb, or 1kg, and was in such a collapsed state that it had to be put down to prevent further suffering.
Magistrates heard how the cat had been left at Clemson's former home while spending more time at partner Thomas Webster's home in Codsall.
Both Webster, aged 21, of Arps Road, and Clemson, also 21, of the same address, were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering.
RSPCA inspector Kate Levesley, who investigated the case, said: "The sight of the cat collapsed behind the door still haunts me."
The couple had told RSPCA staff in interview that they had found the cat as a stray and taken the animal in after taking pity on it.
Ms Levesley said: "This was Clemson's flat but they started spending more time at Webster's place in Wolverhampton.
"Soon they were not going back to her flat at all. How long they thought the kitten could go without food, I don't know.
"There is absolutely no excuse for something like this to happen. The cat would have suffered a lot and was in such a bad way that he very sadly did not survive.
"This is such a sad case and one which has stayed with me. It is important for people to remember that it takes less time for an animal to become starved or dehydrated than they might realise.
"Some people are naive and do not realise that it does not take long for an animal to get into this state. This is an important message that we want to get across."
Webster was given the 15-year ban at Birmingham Magistrates' Court which also imposed a 12-month community order and ordered him to pay £510 costs.
Clemson was also disqualified from keeping animals for 15 years and given a 12-month community order and told to pay costs of £560.
The cases were heard separately last month after they entered different pleas to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to the cat. Clemson pleaded guilty to the offence while Webster was found guilty following a trial in October.
