Selsdon vet issues warnings over cat attacks

3:36pm Thursday 6th November 2008

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A vet is warning Croydon residents about sick individuals who have been mutilating and pouring acid over local cats.

One devastated owner found her cat Asterix, with his head and tail cut off. Another two other pets had to be put down after corrosive acid was poured over them.

The 54-year-old woman, from Selsdon who does not wish to be named, was concerned when Asterix did not come home on Wednesday morning. She found the cat on the road and, thinking he had been run over by a car, she took him to the Selsdon Veterinary Centre to be cremated.

It was only when Mary Ferguson, the practice manager, called her she found out her cat had been decapitated.

She said: “I was devastated when I found out that he had died in such an appalling manner.

”He was a rescue cat and had been living with me for 10 years, he was such a character. I just wish that I had taken a photograph of him on Monday night lying on the sofa with his legs in the air and not a care in the world and obviously dreaming of mice.”

“Whoever did this atrocious thing is a sick person and I hope they get caught and punished.

”No one has the right to take a life.”

Mrs Ferguson said: “Both the head and the tail were missing. The head had been taken off with quite a clean cut and it was obvious that it was not the work of an animal.

“I called around to other vets in the area to find out if they had come across anything like this and discovered that one had a similar situation where the cat had been gutted and another vet had a case where two cats had been covered in corrosive chemicals.”

All four incidents have been reported to the RSPCA who are investigating the acid incident.

A spokeswoman said: “We generally do not investigate decapitations as in our experience they are usually the work of foxes. Vets are of course able to carry out their own investigations.

“We are very concerned about this and are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward by calling 0300 1234 999.”