HOUSEWIFE Julie Carter was facing jail last night after drowning eight cats in a baby bath at her home.

The mother-of-one, from Bicester, told RSPCA workers she could not afford the phone call to have them rescued, so killed them one by one.

The 43-year-old heard in court the short-haired cats, aged between one and three years, would have met suffering and panic in the time it took them to die underwater.

Carter admitted causing unnecessary suffering by killing the felines after she was told she had to get rid of some of the 11 cats she kept in her home.

RSPCA prosecutor Paddy Roche said: “Death by this method is neither quick nor painless. It would have caused considerable suffering and panic would have ensued when they were put into the water.”

Mr Roche told Banbury Magistrates’ Court that a member of staff at Charter Community Housing had made a prior appointment with Carter.

He went into the house where she lived with her seven-year-old son and was struck by a terrible smell of urine.

Mr Roche said: “She said that she had 11 cats and she was told that she would have to remove some of the cats and clean up because it was not suitable for the cats or for her andher son.

“Not long afterwards, Inspector Doug Davidson of the RSPCA went to the premises. It was three weeks later. He said he heard that she had a lot of cats to which Ms Carter said they had been put down. She was evasive initially, saying that a vet had put them down.

“He was not happy with the explanation and was also aware of a strong smell of urine. There was a cat litter tray under the stairs that was overflowing with cat faeces and there were three cats in the kitchen.”

Mr Roche told the court he asked what happened to the other eight. She said they had been put to sleep.

He cautioned her and asked: “Did you do it?” She said: “Yes.”

He added: “She said she had drowned them in the bath. She didn’t feel she had any choice. She said there had been a struggle and she had a plaster on one of her fingers after one of the cats bit her.

“She held them by the scruff of the neck as she drowned them and she hadn’t contacted any animal charities because she didn’t have any money to put on her phone.”

Magistrates heard she drowned them over a week and was hoping to keep the last three.

Mr Roche said: “Asked if they panicked and felt terror, she said ‘probably, I did try to calm them’.”

Five of the dead cats were buried in a black bin liner in her garden and the other three were buried at her mother’s house.

Warning Carter, of Herald Way, that she could face a prison sentence, presiding magistrate Paul Rayment said: “Because of the seriousness of the case we have ruled out nothing at all.

“Some of the aggravating features are that you killed eight domestic animals over a period of a week and it was a deliberate act and you weren’t truthful when you were first asked by the inspector.

“They were not kittens. They were between one and three years of age and you had a small child on the premises when these offences took place.”

Defending Carter, Chris Reynolds said: “This is an extremely sad, distressing and serious case. I don’t try in any way to lessen what has happened because Ms Carter recognises she is in an extremely difficult and serious position.”

Carter was released on unconditional bail until Friday, October 29, when she will be sentenced.

Vets yesterday operated on Marley, the cat blasted with a shotgun on Tuesday, and said he is making a good recovery. Mark Jukel, of Parkwood Vetinary Group, Woodstock, said the one-year-old tabby was under anaesthetic for three hours, but should be able to return home today.

Anyone with information about two pet rats found abandoned in cardboard boxes in Meredith Close, Bicester, on September 14, should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.