WOMAN BANNED FROM OWNING ANIMALS AFTER CAT FOUND DEAD
A woman has received a five-year ban from owning animals following the discovery of a deceased cat in a cage lacking food and water at a property in Barry cluttered with rubbish.Nadine Jade Martell-Marshall, aged 28, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to Tigger, a female tortoiseshell cat.
She failed to provide her with sustenance or hydration over a five-day span during March of the previous year.
During her appearance at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, Martell-Marshall, who now resides at Maes Y Ffynnon, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was handed a two-year community order.
She is also required to partake in a 25-day rehabilitation program, and has been ordered to pay costs totaling £1,086 along with a victim surcharge of £114.
In a written statement provided to the court, RSPCA animal rescue officer Lauren Perry said she went to the address in Barry on March 24, 2025.
She said: “The property was full of rubbish and there were empty cat boxes of food everywhere, cat faeces all over the property, the cat litter trays inside the kitchen and living room area were full of faeces, lots of flies were also present and the property also had fleas everywhere.
“I went inside the bedroom and there was a crate and inside the crate was a deceased cat, the cat was a tortoiseshell coloured cat.
“I could see it was already deceased and the cat was lying inside the crate surrounded by rubbish.” The officer added: “There was a bed available but it was soiled with cat faeces, flies and fleas.
Inside the crate there was no food or water available for the cat.
“I retrieved the body from the crate but there was a white item of clothing which was tied to the crate and I had to untie this and unlock the crate to retrieve the cat.
“I could see that the cat's left eye was partially closed, the body of the cat was solid and cold and the cat's body was covered in live fleas.” RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Black, who led the investigation, said: “This case was extremely harrowing and heartbreaking and our thoughts go to Tigger.
“Every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect and if you have a pet you are responsible for making sure they are happy and healthy – with water and food being a basic provision for any animal.
“We would urge anyone struggling to seek help.”
