Marissa Faultless, a 68-year-old woman from Sutton Coldfield, was found in possession of nine cats despite a court-issued 10-year ban on keeping them. Having previously had nearly 100 cats rescued from her home due to appalling living conditions, Faultless appeared emotional as officers removed the cats this June, declaring, “They’re my babies.”
Faultless’s troubles began when authorities rescued numerous cats from her Tower Road property on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023. The conditions were described in court as deplorable—her home cluttered with rubbish, an overwhelming stench of urine, and inadequate care for the animals. The court heard that one kitten was found dead and others suffered serious health issues, including eye removals due to untreated cat flu.
After pleading guilty to six animal welfare offenses, Faultless was handed a 12-month community order and a decade-long ban on keeping cats by Birmingham Crown Court. Yet, despite these legal measures, neighbors spotted cats at her residence mere days after the ban was imposed in April 2022. Independent witnesses and the police later confirmed the presence of cats through to October that year.
Following these reports, a warrant was executed in June 2023, and nine cats were removed from Faultless’s home. The RSPCA inspected the animals and found they lacked proper toilet facilities, clean water, and suitable food. When confronted, Faultless insulted an RSPCA inspector and expressed her emotional attachment to the cats, saying she could not live without them and lamented not being “allowed to love anything.”
Although Faultless did not attend her hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in November 2023, the case was heard in her absence with confirmation she had been duly notified. Chair of the Bench Mike Ward deemed the case proven and issued a warrant for her arrest, with sentencing to be determined later.
This ongoing case highlights serious animal welfare concerns and the challenges in enforcing bans when emotional attachment and mental health issues may be involved.