French couple who kept 159 cats were banned from having pets

A French couple was given a one-year suspended prison sentence for keeping dozens of animals in poor conditions.

A couple from Nice, France, had 159 cats and seven dogs in their 80 square meter flat. Last year it was discovered that the animals were living in filth, with many dehydrated, suffering from malnutrition or infected with parasites. The judge said the couple did not properly care for the animals.

A remarkable sentence was given to a 68-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man. The couple was also permanently banned from keeping pets. They were also ordered to pay more than 150,000 euros to animal rights charities. Some of the cats and dogs died later due to their poor health. Investigators found the bodies of at least two cats and two dogs in the bathroom.