Family face giving up pets after three cat poisonings
A family plagued by cat poisonings may be forced to part ways with their remaining pets after three deaths in just one year.
Last week’s Kent Messenger reported how dance teacher Catherine Cooper’s cat Sandy was fighting for his life after apparently ingesting anti-freeze.
He sadly had to be put to sleep on Thursday just five months after his brother Jack died in identical circumstances.
The 42-year-old’s family have now lost three cats to poisonings and could have to give up their last two remaining pets up for adoption for their own safety.
Mrs Cooper, of Heath Road, Coxheath, said: “The vet had been trying to get fluids into Sandy to flush out as much as they could, but because his body was shutting down there was fluid building up around his lungs.”
Sandy’s brother Jack died on Christmas Day after drinking anti-freeze while the family returned from holiday in August to find six-year-old Ollie was no longer alive.
A kidney from Sandy’s body has now been sent for expert analysis as Mrs Cooper and her children, James and Jemimah, adjust to a life without their beloved pet.
The mother-of-two said: “Sandy used to sleep on my son’s bed at night and the first evening he wasn’t there was hard for him.”
On vet’s advice, her other cats Kitty and Bombay, are being kept inside.
Mrs Cooper added: “My husband has mooted the idea of them being re-homed so they are safe but we will come back to that when we aren’t as emotional.”
Up to 10 cats are believed to have fallen foul to antifreeze poisoning in the same area and Mrs Cooper is keen to find the source of the poisoning.
She said: “Is it someone who is doing it deliberately? The vet has said he has come across people doing that in Spain where they put it in food.
“Or is someone putting it in their water feature and not realising what they are doing? I am sure it isn’t someone accidentally spilling some because this has happened so many times.”