A MAN who severely neglected six cats, one of which had to be put down, has been successfully prosecuted by the RSPCA.

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Neil Andrew Cain, 62, has six cats who were found to have untreated ailments including eye disease, rectal prolapse, flea and worm burdens while living in an unhygienic and hazardous environment without fresh water.

They were also left unattended for a four day period without supervision or their welfare needs being met.

One of the cats One of the cats (Image: RSPCA)

Cain, of The Broadway, Totland Bay, was to blame when two kittens had to have their eyes removed and one had to be put to sleep by a vet because of the severity of ill health.

The case was described as involving prolonged neglect in a commercial context, as there was evidence of Cain selling kittens.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Kane Goodyear, who helped to investigate for the animal welfare charity, said: “The majority of the kittens looked to have eye issues, they were squinting and their eyelids appeared very swollen with a lot of discharge, also, one of the black kittens has what looked to be a prolapse, it looked like part of the kittens bowel was protruding from its backend, it looked incredibly painful.

"I was extremely concerned for their welfare.”

One of the cats, with a poorly eye One of the cats, with a poorly eye (Image: RSPCA)

At the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, Cain was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping animals for five years.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and must pay a £154 victim surcharge.

The surviving cats have recovered in the care of the RSPCA and were signed over in court to enable them to be found new homes by the charity.