7:10am Thursday 6th November 2008
By Corey Stephenson
IT is a mystery that has devastated animal lovers in a Southampton street.
Pet owners fear their cats are being deliberately poisoned after four in the same road died within days of each other.
Now RSPCA inspectors are warning residents in the Shirley Warren and Coxford areas of the city to be on their guard after cats living in homes in Olive Road died suddenly after they ate or drank an unknown toxic substance.
Vets originally suspected the animals might have been poisoned by antifreeze, which is lethal for felines.
But a post-mortem on one of the pets showed no signs of the substance, used in car radiators.
None of the cats had been injured or was suffering from an infection prior to their death.
Neighbours in the road now fear their other pets may be at risk.
Barbara Holloway and her family were shattered when she lost two cats within three days.
Devastated “It was really upsetting and my grandchildren were devastated.”
Barbara’s first cat, Nemo, was found ill and lying awkwardly in the garden.
“She was cold and couldn’t walk. It was awful because she was in so much pain,” she said.
Second cat, Boo, was found a few days later in the neighbour’s garden. The pet was was taken to the vet but died the next morning.
Sue Hiscock, a vet at Christopher Carter Veterinary Surgery in Shirley, was asked to carry out a post-mortem.
She said: “I can’t rule out whether the cat was poisoned deliberately because we just don’t know. There were no injuries or signs of infection, which makes it very suspicious.”
Barbara’s neighbour, Tammy Pagget, also lost two cats in the same week.
“It’s terrible that someone out there might be doing this,” she said.
RSPCA inspector Chris Coleman said the case was very unusual and warned cat owners to be on their guard.
“It could be some sort of poison but we are baffled by it. We are urging cat owners to be vigilant,” she added.
The RSPCA can be contacted on 0300 1234 999.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/trade_directory/