A ‘SLOW and painful’ death was suffered by a cat after his owners failed to take him for veterinary treatment – and then left his body in the freezer.
The starved and shriveled body of cat Tigger was found at the Rugby flat of Tina Coles, 21, and Martin Hessey, 39.
The couple, of Blackman Way, both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their cat when they appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
They were banned from keeping all animals for seven years.
The court heard three-year-old Tigger had developed a stomach ulcer – but the couple failed to take him for veterinary treatment. Weeks later the ulcer perforated, which led to the Tigger’s death.
A member of the public reported the cat’s death to the RSPCA, and inspector Helen Smith was sent to investigate on June 1.
And in a freezer at the couple’s flat, she found Tigger’s emaciated body – which weighed just 1.47kg when a cat of his age should weigh 4-4.5kg.
Inspector Smith said: “It would have been blatantly obvious that Tigger was in need of veterinary treatment, but the couple failed to act.
“The stomach ulcer would have led to an obvious lack of appetite, which is why Tigger was so emaciated.
“The vet said he would have suffered for at least a month, and his death would have been slow and painful.
“This case really highlights how imperative if it for owners to take their pets for veterinary treatment if they show symptoms of illness. Poor Tigger was left to suffer unnecessarily.”
Both Coles and Hessey were banned from keeping all animals for seven years, fined £120 and also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.
In mitigation, the court was told both had mental health issues which the magistrates took into account when sentencing.