RSPCA Warning after two deadly attacks on cats
PET-OWNERS have been warned to be vigilant after a spate of deadly attacks on cats near Bristol and across the region – including reports of torture.
In the past two weeks there are known to have been two incidents in Weston-super-Mare alone, while other pets have been reported missing there.
The RSPCA has urged people to come forward with any information and confirmed reports about the theft and “sadistic” torture of two cats.
According to a post circulating in Facebook groups, two cats are known to have been viciously attacked by a person or people in the St George’s and Worle areas of the North Somerset town.
A 17-year-old cat was reportedly shot in the eye and had to be put to sleep as a result of the injuries.
Another, a 14-year-old named Ozzie, was found dead with severe injuries in a back garden.
A warning, posted to lost-andfound groups by pet-owner Kelly Edwards, reads: “Unfortunately two cats that we know of have been attacked.
“One cat last week who was attacked in a horrific way (and died), and another today who was a 17-year-old cat. He was shot in the eye at some point today and unfortunately had to be put to sleep.”
The post also alleges a resident in the St George’s area is using a trap to catch cats in their garden.
Weston-super-Mare mum Jo MacDonald, who owned Ozzie, has spoken out about the traumatising inci- dent. She said: “Ozzie went out around 9pm on the Tuesday (November 20) and didn’t come back in when myself and my 13-year-old daughter called him about half an hour later so we left him out for the night.
“Wednesday morning, he wasn’t by the back door or in the garden which he normally is. So, later I posted about him missing on Facebook as it wasn’t like him.
“Someone from Green Pastures vets came out to us Sunday to say Ozzie was brought into them Saturday by a man who found him in his garden dead. This man had seen my post about Ozzie missing.
“Obviously I asked if he had just died of old age/naturally as he was almost 14 but she said he had suffered injuries before he had died and said they were injuries that could only have been inflicted by a person and not by being hit by a car or injured by another animal.”
The mum-of-two said her children are heartbroken and struggling to come to terms with their pet’s tragic death. She said: “My daughter has been heartbroken and just keeps asking why someone would hurt him and I have no answer for that.
“My son is three, so doesn’t really understand death so I told him he went for a long walk when he first went missing and now have been telling him he must have found a new home.
“He still calls out for him and asks ‘where’s Ozzie?’”
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We’re urging anyone in the local community with information about any deliberate cruelty towards cats to contact our inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.”