Two men left their home in such horrific conditions their starving cats resorted to cannibalism.

Damien Beales, 21, and Robert High, 22, were arrested after the bodies of five decomposing and half-eaten cats were discovered inside the filthy house.

It is thought up to 10 other cats had been left so hungry, they had resorted to eating the carcasses to survive.

Other shocking images from inside the Stoneycroft property, on Northgate Road, revealed piles of rubbish and faeces all over the floor.

Beales and High had reportedly moved out in the days prior, and their landlord was so stunned by the state of the house he called Merseyside Police on May 1.

The house was said to smell like ‘faecal matter, cat urine, ammonia and decomposing animal carcasses’.

Inspector Claire Fisher visited the disgusting property and was told the pair had taken the surviving cats with them to a new home.

She became concerned for the animals’ welfare and the men were quickly located at another property in Reading Street, Kirkdale.

The men were found to have 10 cats with them, many of which Inspector Fisher deemed to be underweight.

She seized the cats under the Animal Welfare Act and they were taken for a veterinary examination, before being passed over the RSPCA.

According to the vet, eight of the 10 cats were underweight, but have since returned to normal size.

At Liverpool Magistrates Court, Inspector FIsher said in her witness statement: ‘There was a very strong smell within the premises, one of faecal matter, cat urine, ammonia, decomposed animal carcasses and general filth.

‘Given the combination of general conditions and having now seen the carcasses of a number of cats on the living room floor, it was disturbing to consider that the men would have been stepping over or around the carcasses of these cats, as they sat on the sofas daily.’

Beales and High, who now live in James Street, Barrow-in-Furness, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of the animals for which they were responsible.

In mitigation, the court heard the pair both struggle with mental health issues.

They were both handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The pair were also ordered to pay £500 costs,  a £115 victim surcharge, and are also banned from keeping animals for life.

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