Sharon Colvin (28), of Mason Street, was upset throughout the case brought before Reedley magistrates by the RSPCA. She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a cat by failing to provide veterinary treatment for a prolapsed rectum and must pay £150 towards RSPCA costs and £100 to vet costs.

Inspectors attended her home in June and the found the underweight, male tabby cat in chronic pain.

On the first visit, no one answered the door but two cats could be seen inside, one moving about and the other sitting still. There were also brown-coloured blood stains on the window sill. The next day, Colvin answered the door to an inspector and was asked why she hadn't taken the cat with "a huge rectal prolapse" to the vets.

Mr Chris Wyatt (prosecuting) said Colvin had noticed the problem five days earlier when a neighbour pointed it out, but had not the money to take the cat to Stanley House Vets, Colne, and the prolapse became infected.

He said: "The cat was suffering and there was no other alternative than to put it to sleep. The vet said the presence of smell from the infection should have alerted the owner to the problem and if it had been taken to the vet earlier the operation need not have been as extensive."

She had not noticed the stains on the wall or that it smelled differently, but had only kept animals since Christmas.

Mr Bill Berry (defending) said until this incident she had been scrupulous about the welfare of her cats. He said: "She is very upset, embarrassed and ashamed. She is a single parent on benefits and appologises unreservedly for failing to seek veterinary treatment.

"She had no money to go to the vet and realises now she could have gone to the RSPCA for help."

The magistrates ordered Colvin be banned from owning cats and dogs from a week after the trial to allow time to re-home her other cat, and as she had no previous convictions and had apologised to the court, her ban was reduced from three years to two.