Poison warning

Now they are petrified for the health of their other cat

A LOUGHBOROUGH family who fear two of their cats have been poisoned have appealed for information and to see if any other owners may have suffered the same result.

They also fear for the life of their one-remaining beloved pet cat.

Naomi Martin of Brookside Road, says that just one month ago the family had to have their cat Jerry put down due to the effects of poisoning and two weeks ago a second cat, Zara, died with the same symptoms.

Naomi told the Echo that the substance that killed the pair had been identified as either vehicle anti-freeze, or something similar, but says the amount ingested by both cats was far too much for it to have been a case of it dripping from under a vehicle and lapped up inadvertently.

She added that a woman nearby had told her that her cat had also died suddenly, with no explanation.

Naomi said that Jerry had turned up at their home back in June looking poorly with his back legs very weak. We thought he’d been hit by a car. He’d lost a lot of weight as well and was suffering from sickness.”

She said that the family took Jerry to the vets and the practice: “Ran blood tests and found massive kidney failure, most likely from antifreeze poisoning.”

Then, just two weeks ago another of the family’s cats, Zara, turned up with much the same symptoms. Naomi took her to the vets and says it ended with same sad, worrying result of massive kidney failure and Zara having to be put down.

Naomi has contacted the RSPCA to report the incidents but says that the organisation has its hands tied a little at the moment with the coronavirus situation but urged her to make a public appeal to see if there were any other similar incidents in the area.

Naomi added she is petrified that the one cat they have left, Tom, who is Jerry’s brother is also going to lose his life.

“We are petrified of losing him. He has a special bond with my daughter. He does not leave her side.

“We are so scared of the same thing happening to him.

“Our cat Tom has been incredibly ‘low’ since the loss of our other cats. He’s always looking for Jerry and refuses to eat.

“We just want to urge anyone for information to come forward and report it to the RSPCA or ourselves.”

■ A photo of family pet Tom taken a while ago, with Naomi Martin’s daughter. The family are scared the cat may lose his life in the same way as their other two.

■ Loughborough’s Naomi Martin believes her pet cat Zara was poisoned. Another of the family’s cats Jerry, died in similar circumstances in June.

■ Naomi Martin believes her pet cat Jerry, pictured, was poisoned.