Housing officials had received complaints about the property

Some were in cages, covered by blankets, while others roamed free.

Litter trays were overflowing with faeces and the smell was "sickening", council officials told the court.

Glyndwr and Margaret Jones and their eldest son Michael, of Gorseinon, deny three charges of causing unncessary suffering to 14 dogs and 22 cats.

The parents also deny breaching a disqualification order against keeping animals.

The case, being brought by the RSPCA at Swansea magistrates court, continues.

A warrant was executed at the property at Llanerch Crescent on 27 October 2005.

The odour could be detected before you reached the front door Wendy Pool, housing officer

Swansea council's senior environmental health officer Emyr Evans said: "When we got in there, the first thing I noticed was an overpowering smell of ammonia. "

He said it was being used to disguise the smell of urine and was so strong it stung his eyes.

"There were a large number of cats and dogs, some of which were roaming around the property. In the lounge, behind each chair, was a litter tray - the litter trays were full to over-flowing," said Mr Evans.

'Noise'

"From the environmental health (point of view), the kitchen was most shocking of all because the cats were sleeping on the food surfaces."

He said he witnessed one cat vomiting on the grill.

The three deny causing unnecessary suffering to 36 animals

Earlier, the court heard the council's housing department had received anonymous complaints about the state of the property.

Housing officer Wendy Pool visited on several occasions during September and October 2005, and estimated there were around 100 animals at the house.

She said the smell was "very sickening" and "the odour could be detected before you reached the front door".

Ms Pool said on one occasion the lounge was so full of cages containing dogs it was impossible to move around.

"There was always a noise from the animals."

As well as cats and dogs, officials found rodents and birds.

The RSPCA allege that the Joneses caused unncessary suffering to 36 animals through not properly feeding them, keeping them in a poor environment and failing to provide proper veterinary care.

Glyndwr Jones, 56, and wife Margaret, claim the animals belonged to their 19-year-old son Philip.

The family told council officials some of the animals were rescued, some belonged to Carmarthenshire College and others were pets of two younger daughters.