A FORMER pub landlady banned from keeping cats for two years has won a fight to save the lives of her seven pets.

Reedley Magistrates had disqualified Gaynor Moulson, 54, after two of her kittens were suffering from cat flu and later had to be destroyed. Moulson, then the owner of 16 cats, had admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering after she went a way for a few days and left them.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Moulson, whose cats were like children to her, had treated the kittens herself even though the RSPCA had advised she take them to a vet -- and later said she couldn't afford vets' fees.

The ban, which meant her remaining seven pets would also have to be put down as they may carry the cat flu virus and couldn't be rehomed, had been lifted pending her appeal against sentence.

Allowing the appeal, Judge Philip Sycamore said a vet had reported cat flu did not indicate neglect by the owner and generally Moulson had shown a caring attitude towards her animals. There was no evidence of any wilful acts causing suffering, but rather a misguided approach to the appropriate treatment of the cats.

He said the matter which concerned the bench most was that having received helpful advice from the RSPCA, she left the property for three or four days and did not see fit to stay and ensure that all was well. The judge, sitting with two magistrates, said it was accepted vets' costs were expensive, but people with pets must ensure not only that proper arrangements were made for their care and welfare but that they could afford them.

He added the bench hoped she would think carefully about the number of animals she kept in the future.

John Eyre, for the RSPCA, said last August the organisation received information from a member of the public and went to Moulson's home at Castle View Terrace, Barnoldswick. A "great many cats," were coming and going from the premises. It was feared some of them were suffering from the symptoms of cat flu, although there was no suggestion at that point they were being caused unnecessary suffering. Moulson was given advice about treatment including the need, in some cases, for veterinary help.

Eight days later an inspector returned to Moulson's home, saw a lot of cats and some of them caused him concern.

Two of the cats either had their eyes totally closed or eyes clearly affected by the flu and were in poor condition. They were taken away and seen by a vet.

Mr Eyre said Moulson said she could not afford a vet and had been bathing the animals' eyes herself. Zabeda Maqsood, for Moulson, said she had seen two of the cats had weeping eyes before she left her home and had been bathing their eyes with saline solution. Having begun that it was an inappropriate time to leave the kittens for three or four days.

Moulson, who was assaulted when she was a licensee, suffered physical and some mental disability. She had gone to stay at her partner's home and when she did so a neighbour, who was a former Lancashire Constabulary Diseases in Animals Inspector, always looked after her cats. He fed them and checked they were alright twice a day.

He said both of the cats recovered from the cat flu but they remained carriers of the virus and had to be destroyed. If her seven remaining cats were taken from her, they would have nowhere to go and would also have to be put down.

After the case, Moulson refused to comment at her home. She said: "It has all been very traumatic and we want to put it behind us."