A cat breeder from Gloucester has been banned from keeping any animals, except dogs, for ten years after two underweight kittens she sold online were found dead or collapsed within about 48 hours of leaving her care. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the RSPCA.
What the court heard
The buyer took both kittens to a vet two days after acquiring them online because he was worried about their health. When the vet opened the carrier, a small ginger kitten had already died and a small black kitten had collapsed.
The black kitten was in a critical state, severely emaciated, with a poor outlook. The vet made the decision to euthanise it to end its suffering.
What the vet told the court
In a report for the court, the vet concluded that the black kitten had been suffering from severe malnutrition, emaciation and respiratory distress. It also had low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
The vet said both kittens were around six weeks old and too young to have been separated from their mother, especially in that condition. A post-mortem supported this. The kittens were far smaller than expected for their stated age of eight weeks, and their weights fell below the published range for a two-week-old kitten.
The vet’s view was that kittens in this state should have been taken to a vet by the breeder rather than sold, and that good veterinary and husbandry practice had not been followed.
The sentence
Becky Dawson, who sold animals through online selling sites under various names, pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence under Section 9(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on 19 October.
- A ten-year ban on keeping animals, other than dogs, with no right to appeal for five years
- 20 weeks in custody, suspended for two years
- A prohibited activity requirement, meaning she must not breed or sell any animal
- £900 in costs, plus compensation to the kittens’ owner
The charge covered the period between 23 February and 20 April 2025. It said she failed to provide adequate nutrition, failed to give any or enough preventative care such as vaccination and parasite control, and failed to treat illness. It also said she separated the kittens from their mother too early, exposed them to sale in an unfit state and failed to protect them from suffering.
In mitigation, Dawson told the court she had a lot going on at the time, including mental health issues.
What the RSPCA said
RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson, who investigated the case, said anyone caring for animals should put their health and welfare first, and that these kittens did not receive the care they needed at the start of their lives. He said the case shows why new owners must be careful when choosing a kitten, because unsuitable breeders are out there and buyers need to check their new pet has not come from one.
He also encouraged people looking for a cat or kitten to consider adopting a rescue cat that needs a second chance.
How to spot a risky kitten sale
This guidance is general advice, not taken from the court case:
- Ask to see the kitten with its mother in the place it was born and raised. Be wary of handovers in car parks or at your doorstep.
- Check the kitten’s age. Kittens are generally not ready to leave their mother before about eight weeks old.
- Look at the kitten’s condition. Walk away if it seems thin, weak, lethargic, or has breathing trouble, runny eyes or a dirty coat.
- Ask for vaccination, worming and flea treatment records, and arrange a vet check soon after you bring the kitten home.
- Be cautious with sellers using several names or listing many litters on online selling sites.
- Never pay a deposit for a kitten you have not seen in person.
Consider adopting instead
Rescue centres across the UK have cats and kittens waiting for homes, and they usually vet-check, vaccinate and match animals to their new families. The RSPCA lists adoptable cats at rspca.org.uk/findapet.
If you are weighing up your options, see our guides to adopting a cat in the UK and UK rescue charities.
Source: RSPCA press release, October 2026.
