One of the cats found at Tyrell's home

Two of the charges she faced related to geckos found at her home. She was further banned from keeping any reptiles for five years.

Tyrell had claimed in court that cat breeding was just a hobby, but District Judge Bruce Morgan said anyone who spent £4,000 buying cats from Australia as she had done was obviously doing it for a living.

He said no animal should ever again be allowed to live in the odious conditions to which Tyrell subjected the cats and added: “What you did to these animals was cruelty beyond belief.”

Mr Paul Taylor, prosecuting, told the court heard that when RSPCA and police officers searched Tyrell’s home in September 2008 the property stank so strongly of cat faeces and ammonia that one constable with 20 years’ experience in the force almost vomited.

The hall, stairs and landing were covered with cat faeces, smelt of urine and cats were found in filthy pens in two upstairs rooms.

The court heard that the surviving cats had their fur matted with faeces while others were suffering from a variety of diseases. One cat also had deformed hind legs and could not walk properly.

Miss Ann-Marie Gregory, for Tyrell, said being banned from keeping cats would prove devastating to her client.

By Simon Hardy