Cumbrian woman banned from breeding cats at her home

An award-winning cat breeder is taking legal advice after being told she cannot breed or sell show cats at her home.

Paula Barrowclough, who runs Posh Kitties in Seascale, says she is “devastated” that Copeland planners have refused permission to change her home to a private cat breeding premises.
The decision means that she can longer breed or sell Ragdoll or Maine Coon cats and it could mean that the 17 pet show cats that she owns may need to be re-homed.
The mum-of-four is now deeply concerned about the knock-on effect this will have on her life.
She is worried that she will not be able to afford to keep her home and will struggle to look after her children, three of whom have serious medical problems.
Mrs Barrowclough said: “I used to be on benefits but when I started breeding the cats I was able to stay at home, make money to take the cats to the shows and look after my children.
“The cats are important but my family comes first. I need to provide for my family.”
She says although Posh Kitties is a registered business, she classes it more as a hobby.
She said: “I have always been an animal lover. It started with a few of them, and then we got a few more. We started showing them and we now have about 300 rosettes and 10 trophies. It’s hard work, but it’s fun.”
“It stops me from claiming benefits and it pays the bills. It fits in with my life.”
She added: “The Government are trying to get people to come off benefits and not go back on them. It’s going to cost them more money if this goes ahead, compared to if they let me carry on with what I’m doing.”
She says one of main concerns is what will happen next.
“There is no way they can take my cats away. Whatever happens, the cats are staying.”
Mrs Barrowclough has contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau to seek legal advice.
“As far as I’m concerned there are no licence rules on breeding cats. I can continue to breed cats from where I live,” she said.
According to Copeland Council guidelines, an agreement will have to be made to authorise enforcement action to secure the removal of the business.
If needed, the council may also need to re-home the cats that currently live at Mrs Barrowclough’s house.
Copeland’s planning panel discussed the retrospective application at a meeting last week.
Councillors heard that Posh Kitties sells show cats that are surplus to requirement, in order to fund the hobby.
The cats are kept in two sheds at the home and the cats use a special enclosed area in the garden.
Members of the panel heard that in terms of the cat breeding proposal, the number of cats vary and it is very difficult to control.
A number of objections were raised by neighbours and a nearby nursery about the planning application.
These included concerns that the cat breeding hobby is being run as a small business with potential for expansion if permission is granted, concern about whether waste will be disposed of properly and the noise of the cats and the affect on the local wildlife.
Seascale Parish Council were “very concerned and uncomfortable” about the retrospective application.
Environmental Health said the noise is unlikely to be a problem and there are no current problems with odour or waste.
Mrs Barrowclough said the wildlife in the area was not affected as a result of her keeping the cats.
Councillors ruled that the development would have “a significant adverse affect on neighbouring residential amenity in terms of noise, smell and general disturbance arising from the comings and goings of visitors.”
Coun Alan Jacob said: “The site visit was very useful. It’s not the ideal place for a business. Other than the community aspects, I do not think there is a serious problem. If I was given the opportunity of setting up a business, I would have found a remote farm not in a place like that.”
Source http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/