A pet owner has been left distraught after the gruesome discovery of her mutilated kitten missing both its head and tail.

Amanda Cairney, 49, from Ashtree Avenue, Mitcham, found 18-month old Rudy earlier this month after he disappeared from her home one evening.

Rudy was discovered on Lewis Road, Mitcham, without his head or tail and, according to Miss Cairney, any blood leading her mother to suspect a more sinister cause of death.

Her mother, Joan Cairney, 72, from Mitcham said: "We will never know if it was people or a fox but people have said it’s a bit strange that he was missing his head, tail and there was no blood - that seems more like a ritual thing to me.

"I didn’t think a fox would do that."

She added: "She was hysterical on the phone.

"I know the foxes are starving, but I watch animal programmes and they say the foxes won’t do that so I am not sure."

The RSPCA was able to offer an explanation to the grisly discovery adding that it was not an uncommon occurrence.

A spokesman said: "It is most likely that the cat was involved in a road accident and killed then a fox would have taken the head and tail.

"It would never happen to a healthy living cat.

"Foxes are no risk to cats and this is quite common."

"It’s unlikely that is was a person."