Court hears allegations of animal neglect, poor hygiene, and misuse of donations at cat cafe shut down in 2023
Carmen Coleiro, who managed the cat cafe from 2016, was accused of lying by fellow animal rights activist Romina Frendo during the compilation of evidence against her
Frendo, representing the Real Animal Rights Foundation, told the court that volunteers had discovered a "mountain of excrement", maggots in cat food and animals being kept in rooms with too few litter trays
At one point during her testimony, Coleiro interrupted from the dock, shouting: "You're a liar."
The cat cafe was operated by Animal Guardians Malta until December 2023, when management at the St Vincent de Paul Long-term care facility took control of the premises following allegations of animal neglect and abuse
Frendo testified that volunteers visiting the cafe had found between six and eight cats confined to one room with just two litter trays
One cat was allegedly found in a cage without a litter tray, while others appeared desperate for food
Frendo said a volunteer had told her that Coleiro was rarely seen at the premises
She also claimed that a sandpit was being used as a communal litter tray, raising concerns about the spread of disease among the animals
"All you need is one cat with diarrhoea, or giardia, and every other cat is infected," she said