Shoreditch Woman Banned for 21 Cats, Dog, Python in Filthy Flat

Key Points

• Rachel Xie Yin, 38, of no fixed address (born 14 July 1987), was found keeping 21 cats, a dog, and a python snake in a flat at The Waterson Building, Long Street, Shoreditch, East London.​
• She received a second lifetime ban on owning animals at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 21 January 2026, after pleading guilty to breaching a previous lifetime ban from June 2015 and failing to meet the welfare needs of nine cats.​
• RSPCA investigation began in January 2025 following concerns raised by a veterinary surgery about a severely unwell cat, which was euthanised despite emergency treatment.​
• Animal Rescue Officer Michael Harrington traced the cat to Xie Yin, discovering she was using multiple names to register animals at various East London vet practices.​
• On 6 February 2025, RSPCA officers and police entered the flat, finding filthy conditions including faeces-filled litter trays, diarrhoea on bedding, blood in faeces in the bath, cats eating old food from a pan on the hob, and the python’s vivarium switched off.​
• RSPCA Inspector Lee Ricketts described the scene: “I saw three litter trays all of which contained feces, I saw one bowl containing water which I had been informed was placed there by police just prior to me entering the property and had several cats crowding round it, there was feces and what appeared to be diarrhoea on the bedding in the bedroom and feces in the bath containing blood. There were a large number of cats, some of which were crowded around the kitchen worktop and on the hob eating old food which had been left in a pan. There was a small black dog also roaming in the property and a snake contained in a vivarium, which had been switched off at the wall, within the bedroom.”​
• All 23 animals were removed and examined; nine cats suffered ill health including ear disease, eye disease, poor body condition, fever, and dental disease, with signs of neglect like faecal soiling and matted fur.​
• A veterinary surgeon stated: “Nine of the cats had health conditions including ear disease, eye disease, poor body condition, fever and dental disease. Many of the animals showed signs of neglect, including faecal soiling and matted fur. This demonstrates that they were not having their needs met through regular and timely veterinary care. The dirty environment may also have contributed to their poor condition.”​
• Xie Yin was sentenced to 14 weeks’ custody suspended for 12 months, 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 40 hours unpaid work, £500 costs, and a £154 victim surcharge.​
• In mitigation, Xie Yin said she thought the previous ban had ended and that she loved animals but had taken on too many from friends travelling to and from China.​
• All animals are now in RSPCA care.​

Shoreditch, East London (East London Times) February 2, 2026 – A woman has been banned from keeping pets after authorities discovered 21 cats, a dog, and a python being kept inside a flat in east London. The RSPCA launched an inquiry in January 2025 after a veterinary surgery raised concerns about a cat that had been brought in severely unwell. Although emergency treatment was attempted, the animal was later euthanised. Animal Rescue Officer Michael Harrington traced the ownership of the cat to Rachel Xie Yin, 38.​

Who is Rachel Xie Yin?

Rachel Xie Yin, aged 38 and of no fixed address, with date of birth 14 July 1987, became the subject of an RSPCA probe due to her history with animal ownership. As detailed in coverage by the London Post, she was already under a lifetime disqualification order from June 2015, yet continued to keep animals. According to reports from MyLondon as aggregated on Yahoo UK News, Xie Yin had been registering pets under numerous different names at several veterinary practices across East London to evade detection.

This pattern emerged when Officer Michael Harrington investigated the euthanised cat in January 2025.

In court, Xie Yin pleaded guilty to breaching the prior ban and failing to meet the needs of nine cats specifically. Her actions led to a second lifetime prohibition on owning any animals, handed down at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.​

What triggered the RSPCA investigation?

The investigation commenced in January 2025 when a local veterinary practice flagged a cat in critical condition, as first reported in the initial Metro UK snippet and expanded upon by London Post. Despite attempts at emergency treatment, the cat was euthanised, prompting Animal Rescue Officer Michael Harrington to trace ownership back to Rachel Xie Yin.

This discovery revealed her existing ban, leading to further inquiries into her activities at multiple vet surgeries.

RSPCA officers, aware of her use of aliases, escalated the matter, culminating in a welfare check on 6 February 2025. The prompt response underscores the role of veterinary professionals in animal welfare reporting, aligning with RSPCA guidelines for vets to disclose concerns.​

What conditions were found in the Shoreditch flat?

On 6 February 2025, RSPCA officers accompanied by police entered the flat at The Waterson Building, Long Street, Shoreditch, East London. RSPCA Inspector Lee Ricketts provided a detailed account to the London Post:

“I saw three litter trays all of which contained feces, I saw one bowl containing water which I had been informed was placed there by police just prior to me entering the property and had several cats crowding round it, there was feces and what appeared to be diarrhoea on the bedding in the bedroom and feces in the bath containing blood.”​

She continued: “There were a large number of cats, some of which were crowded around the kitchen worktop and on the hob eating old food which had been left in a pan. There was a small black dog also roaming in the property and a snake contained in a vivarium, which had been switched off at the wall, within the bedroom.” These squalid conditions, described similarly in Yahoo UK News coverage from MyLondon, highlighted severe neglect.

Which animals were rescued and what was their health status?

Authorities seized 21 cats, one small black dog, and one python snake from the property. All were transported to a veterinary practice for examination, as per London Post reporting. Nine cats were diagnosed with inadequate welfare needs met, suffering from ear disease, eye disease, poor body condition, fever, and dental disease.​

The examining veterinary surgeon noted:

“Many of the animals showed signs of neglect, including faecal soiling and matted fur. This demonstrates that they were not having their needs met through regular and timely veterinary care. The dirty environment may also have contributed to their poor condition.”

All animals remain in RSPCA care, receiving ongoing support.

What was the court sentence?

At Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, Rachel Xie Yin faced sentencing after her guilty pleas. The court imposed a second lifetime ban on owning all animals, alongside £500 in costs.​

Additionally, she received 14 weeks’ custody suspended for 12 months, with conditions including 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 40 hours of unpaid work. A victim surcharge of £154 was also levied.​

Why did Rachel Xie Yin breach the previous ban?

In mitigation during the hearing, Xie Yin claimed she believed the original lifetime ban from June 2015 had ended. As reported by London Post, she stated:

“She said she loved animals, but had taken on too many from friends that were travelling to and from China.”

This explanation was presented amid evidence of her using multiple identities to acquire and register pets.

The court did not accept this as fully excusing her actions, given the severity of the neglect observed. Coverage in Yahoo UK News echoed her defence, noting the overwhelming number of animals she had assumed responsibility for.​

What is the history of the lifetime ban?

Rachel Xie Yin’s first lifetime disqualification was imposed in June 2015, though specific details of that case were not detailed in current reports from London Post or MyLondon. Breaching such an order constitutes a serious offence under animal welfare legislation, leading to escalated penalties upon reconviction.​

This second ban reinforces judicial commitment to protecting animals from repeat offenders. RSPCA statements emphasise that lifetime orders are indefinite unless explicitly overturned.

How has the RSPCA responded?

The RSPCA’s involvement began with veterinary alerts and progressed to a coordinated raid with police. Inspector Lee Ricketts’ on-site observations formed key evidence, as quoted extensively in London Post. Officer Michael Harrington’s tracing work was pivotal in linking the initial cat to Xie Yin.​

Post-rescue, the charity is rehoming the animals after treatment. Their guidelines encourage vets to report suspicions promptly, a practice that triggered this case.​

What does this case say about animal welfare in East London?

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in urban animal hoarding, particularly in dense areas like Shoreditch. Reports from multiple outlets, including London Post and MyLondon, note the use of aliases complicating enforcement. Veterinary vigilance proved crucial, aligning with broader RSPCA efforts amid rising neglect reports.