AN Australian woman who lived in her car with 23 pets - 12 of which were cats - has been fined $9000 and forced to surrender all the animals to authorities.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported Carol Lynette Samuels, 66, said she was a successful cat breeder but tough financial times last year had forced her to move out of a $1.5 million mansion on Macleay Island in Moreton Bay.
She told the Southport Magistrates Court she no choice but to move into her car along with her pets which she considered to be her "children".
An RSPCA inspector found Samuels and her pets in the undercover carpark of the Arundel Shopping Plaza in September after a complaint.
The court was told inside the car, which stank of ammonia, the inspector found 11 long-haired Persian cats and a Himalayan cat inside seven cages on the back seat and nine Pomeranian dogs and two poodles beside the car.
Vet checks showed the cats were malnourished had matted fur, fleas and cat flu.
The RSPCA seized the animals and one cat had to be put down.
Samuels yesterday pleaded guilty to nine counts of breaching the Animal Care and Protection Act by failing her duty of care to feed, clean and provide adequate shelter for the cats.
"I'd lost an awful lot and a didn't want to lose my cats as well because they are the only family I've got," she said.
Magistrate Michael Hogan fined her $4000 and ordered her to pay the RSPCA $5000 for veterinary care and to pay $73.80 in court costs.
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