A CAT was found without food or fresh water and had been forced to defecate in a sink after she was left by her owner for more than two days, a court heard.

Fareham Magistrates’ Court was told how the authorities entered Margaret Byrne’s flat to find her short-haired tabby cat Tinkerbell in a flat smelling of cat faeces.

She was ordered to pay a fine of £200, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £3,388 and was disqualified from keeping animals for a year.

RSPCA inspectors had visited Byrne’s Fareham home on several occasions over three days to check on the welfare of the cat and on the first occasion had seen it asleep, the court heard.

After the first visit, on June 26 last year, they put seals on the front and back door and when, on a later visit on June 28, they found these seals had still not been broken to indicate entry to the property, they alerted the police who got in, the court was told.

Sarah Wheadon, prosecuting, said: “In essence there was no food, no water available for the cat.

“The litter tray was soiled, she was having to use the sink instead – it would have been highly unpleasant for a cat to use.”

The ground-floor flat had no cat flap, the court heard.

Mrs Wheadon said on examination Tinkerbell was bright and responsive and, though slim, not underweight,.

When Byrne was located she said she had last been at the property the day before the first inspector’s visit.

The 47-year-old, of Thorni Avenue, said she had put down plenty of food and water and had returned to the flat at one point, but the seals on the door had not been disturbed during that time.

Tinkerbell has since been rehomed. Two charges of failing to meet the welfare needs of an animal, by failing to ensure Tinkerbell had a suitable environment and by failing to provide an adequate diet, were proved in Byrne’s absence at a hearing in June. She was also sentenced in her absence.

The court heard that Byrne had no previous convictions and the offence had been over a short period of time.

An RSPCA spokesman said after the case: “The RSPCA always sees a rise in abandoned animals during the summer months and inspectors are warning that leaving pets home alone is not acceptable.”