Jon Wade: Illawarra cat breeder sentenced for animal cruelty and failing to provide vet treatment

A court has heard more than 70 cats were subjected to “highly distressing” and “squalid” conditions by a former award-winning cat breeder.

Jon Wade kept more than 70 cats in "squalid" conditions.

A court has heard more than 70 cats were subjected to “highly distressing” and “squalid” conditions by a former award-winning cat breeder.

Jon Wade, 62, was sentenced to an 18 month community correction order in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to committing an act of animal cruelty and three counts of failing to provide vet treatment.

Documents tendered in court state Wade was known to the RSPCA for five years leading up to being charged in late 2022.

RSPCA officer attended his now former address on Bassett St, Fairy Meadow, in October where they found “excessive amounts of furniture, rubbish and other items”.

The documents state 59 Bengal cats and kittens were inside with a further 12 in an outdoor enclosure with the officers noting “blow flies and strong smell of ammonia and cat excrement”.

The RSPCA officers described the conditions as “confronting, cluttered and highly unsanitary”.

The documents state 14 of the animals were taken to a vet and Wade was issued an order follow a treatment plan for the cats and provide them with a clean environment.

An outdoor caged enclosure at Jon Wade’s Fairy Meadow Department of Housing home.

However, when officers returned a month later the conditions had not improved with a total of 57 cats sized while a further neonate kitten was found deceased.

The following day the RSPCA went to Wade’s second address on Hopman Cres, Berkeley, where they located 20 cats including three housed separately that were described as being of “reasonable health”.

Chicken bones were left discarded over the floor.

Maggots were spread through the house.

Court documents state a total of 73 cats were seized of which 63 were infested with fleas, 29 were suffering from dental disease and two had life-threatening uterus infections.

The court heard 50 of the cats had to be euthanised with about 20 being adopted or being in the process of being adopted.

The total vet bill amounted to $142,000.

There were 63 cats infested with fleas.

Defence lawyer Bryan Wrench submitted in court on Thursday how his client had a “love” for cats and was a renowned feline breeder who had won awards for his work at a national level.

Mr Wrench said it was not a matter of “wilful neglect”, but rather a “loss of control” due to Wade being unable to manage his mental health.

“The cats because they weren’t desexed it simply got out of control,” Mr Wrench said.

“He didn’t control his mental health enough.”

Mr Wrench sought for the matter to be dealt under the mental health act, however, Magistrate Claire Girotto – who put on the record she was a regular donor to the RSPCA – pondered “what would the community expect here”.

Jon Wade leaving Wollongong Local Court with his lawyer Bryan Wrench. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“Some people don’t care about animals, but cats and animals or mammals are sentient beings,” the magistrate said.

“There are 72 cats who have been treated poorly. If he had done this on purpose he would be going to jail.”

Ms Girotto dismissed the mental health application before imposing the conviction and CCO with the condition he cannot own more than two microchipped and desexed cats.

“I don’t want to deprive him of having some desexed friends.” she said.

Wade was also ordered to repay $50,000 to the RSPCA in vet costs.