18 June 2025
A 53-year-old woman and her two sons, aged 25 and 22, are each facing 15 charges of animal cruelty after 38 cats and four chickens were removed from their Gosnells home.
RSPCA WA inspectors attended the suburban property in February following a report stating that many cats were living in appalling conditions at the address.
The inspectors spoke to all three accused. The 25-year-old man confirmed his mother was a breeder of Ragdoll and Russian Blue cats.
The female accused said she and her sons all cared for the animals however admitted she had only checked on the cats a few times in the last month.
The Inspectors saw 38 cats and kittens, confined to cages and pens of varying sizes, some stacked on top of each other, at the rear of the property, under the veranda area and in a storage shed.
Each contained a large build up of faeces and urine – one was described by the inspector as having a litter tray so filled with faeces and diarrhoea that it was overflowing onto the cage floor which meant the cat had limited room to move or lay down without touching faeces.
Some cages contained no bedding, and some contained no water. Some of the cats appeared shut down and timid. Subsequent RSPCA WA vet examinations revealed varying degrees of gastrointestinal illnesses, infections, dental disease and poor body condition across the population of cats.
The four Isla Brown hens were inside a large coop. The inspector noted there was no water available to the chickens, the water bucket was dry and full of dirt and sticks, and the chickens' only food source was mouldy vegetables.
RSPCA WA alleges the female accused operated a profit-driven commercial business of selling pedigree cats and was breeding large numbers of cats with no concern for their welfare, safety and health.
The accused have each been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(b)(ii), 19(3)(d) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege they were cruel to several of the cats and hens in that they confined them in a manner likely to cause unnecessary harm, did not provide sufficient food and water, and allowed them to suffer to harm which could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. All three coaccused are due to face Armadale Magistrates Court on 25 July.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.
