Woman drowned eight cats because she 'couldn't afford to phone the RSPCA'

Housewife Julie Carter is jail after drowning eight cats in a baby bath at her home. The mother-of-one, from Bicester, told RSPCA workers she could not afford the phone call to have them rescued, so killed them one by one. The 43-year-old heard in court the short-haired cats, aged between one and three years, would have met suffering and panic in the time it took them to die underwater.

Carter admitted causing unnecessary suffering by killing the felines after she was told she had to get rid of some of the 11 cats she kept in her home. RSPCA prosecutor Paddy Roche said: “Death by this method is neither quick nor painless. It would have caused considerable suffering and panic would have ensued when they were put into the water.”



Five of the dead cats were buried in a black bin liner in her garden and the other three were buried at her mother’s house. Warning Carter, of Herald Way, that she could face a prison sentence, presiding magistrate Paul Rayment said: “Because of the seriousness of the case we have ruled out nothing at all. Some of the aggravating features are that you killed eight domestic animals over a period of a week and it was a deliberate act and you weren’t truthful when you were first asked by the inspector.

“They were not kittens. They were between one and three years of age and you had a small child on the premises when these offences took place.” Defending Carter, Chris Reynolds said: “This is an extremely sad, distressing and serious case. I don’t try in any way to lessen what has happened because Ms Carter recognises she is in an extremely difficult and serious position.” Carter was released on unconditional bail until Friday, October 29, when she will be sentenced.