JOLENE HARRIS FROM CEFYN COED FACES COURT OVER HORRIFIC CAT ABUSE IN HIRWAUN AND MERTHYR TYDFIL

In a disturbing case that has shocked animal welfare advocates, Jolene Harris, a cat breeder from Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was found guilty of neglecting eight cats in deplorable conditions. The incident came to light after authorities responded to reports of severe animal suffering at a property in Hirwaun, South Wales, where Harris had previously kept her cats.

On August 7, 2023, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Emma Smith, accompanied by police officers, visited a bungalow on Greenwood Drive in Hirwaun following a tip-off. The inspector described the interior as overwhelmingly foul, with a stench so potent that it was immediately noticeable upon entry. The inside of the residence was in a state of extreme disarray, with household items scattered across the floors, piles of rubbish, and layers of grime covering every surface.

As she entered the living room, Inspector Smith observed two cats—one a cream ragdoll and another that quickly ran away—alongside an empty cat food bowl and a water dish. The litter trays in the room contained multiple hardened lumps of feces, and traces of diarrhea were visible on the floor, indicating neglect and poor hygiene.

Moving through a small hallway leading to a bathroom and a bedroom, the inspector noted that the foul smell of urine and ammonia persisted throughout the bungalow. In the bedroom, she encountered a third cat, which appeared nervous and fled the scene. This room contained a water bowl and a dry food dish, along with two litter trays filled with feces, further evidence of inadequate care.

One of the most distressing discoveries was behind a door marked ‘Please do not open door cats in here loose,’ which Inspector Smith could only open a third of. She described the scene behind the door as the worst she had seen in her 14 years with the RSPCA. The room was filled with mounds of moldy, caked feces, and the overwhelming smell of decay made her physically uncomfortable, forcing her to take breaks to recover from the stench. The floor was stained with old and fresh urine, and the entire space was cluttered with rubbish, ground-in food, and matted cat fur caked in feces.

Inside the room, water bowls were contaminated with yellow urine, and several cat carriers were present, all stained and caked with feces. There was no clean bedding or suitable environment for the cats, who were confined in a space with no ventilation and no apparent means of escape. Five cats were found in this room, all subdued and displaying signs of neglect. Their coats were stained, smelly, and heavily matted, with some suffering from untreated ear and dental diseases due to lack of proper care.

Following the inspection, all eight cats from the property were seized by police and taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for urgent care. Harris, who was at the time residing in Cefn Coed but with connections to Reading, Berkshire, was charged and pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act. These charges included her failure to provide a suitable environment for the cats, neglecting their needs to be protected from pain, suffering, injury, or disease, and failing to offer adequate daily care and supervision.

Additionally, Harris neglected to check for signs of illness, leading to untreated ear and dental issues in one cat, and failed to maintain the coats of two others in proper condition. The court was also informed of her previous interactions with the RSPCA, which involved advice and guidance on proper living conditions for animals.

As part of the legal proceedings, Harris signed over ownership of five cats, four of whom have already been rehomed. The remaining cats are scheduled to be made available for adoption after an order was issued to relinquish her ownership rights. The court sentenced Harris to a fine of £200, ordered her to pay £400 in costs, and imposed an £80 victim surcharge. Furthermore, she received a five-year disqualification order from owning or caring for any animals, which will remain in effect until May 2029.