ELIZABETH RICHMOND-WATSON FROM HENLEY-ON-THAMES BANNED FOR CRUELTY TO 64 BENGAL CATS

Elizabeth Richmond-Watson, a cat breeder based in Henley-on-Thames, was found guilty of severe neglect involving her care of 64 Bengal cats. The incident came to light in February 2016 when the RSPCA conducted an inspection at her property, located at Halfacre, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6DB, after concerns were raised regarding the welfare of her animals.

During the investigation, inspectors discovered a distressing scene: the house and surrounding outbuildings were in a deplorable state, characterized by unsanitary conditions, clutter, and accumulated rubbish. The cats, many of which were bred for sale under her business Owlsdene Bengals, were seen roaming freely within these unhygienic environments. The environment was deemed completely unsuitable for the animals, with food left scattered around and no apparent proper hygiene or disease control measures in place.

Many of the Bengal cats were suffering from illnesses such as cat flu and eye infections, conditions that could have been prevented with adequate care and disease management. The inspectors found it necessary to euthanize three of the animals immediately due to their poor health and behavioral issues. In the days following the inspection, a further four cats had to be put down, highlighting the severity of the neglect.

RSPCA inspector Rachel Smith described the scene, stating, “When we arrived there were lots and lots of cats just roaming the house and the outbuildings, which had been built for breeding in completely unhygienic conditions. It was chaotic with clutter and rubbish and there was food lying around — a totally unsuitable environment for these cats to be living in. Sadly, the owner was just not providing proper care for these cats, leading to some extreme neglect. She may have had the best of intentions but the reality was the animals were suffering and we had to act to ensure there was no further suffering.”

As a result of her actions, Elizabeth Richmond-Watson was handed a sentence that included a 12-week prison term, which was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, pay costs amounting to £10,000, and a victim surcharge. Additionally, she was disqualified from keeping animals for a period of three years, a ban that expired in December 2019 but could potentially be appealed as early as December 2017. Richmond-Watson retains the right to challenge the ban, but her conviction underscores the serious consequences of neglecting animal welfare laws in the UK.