Investigation launched after Worthing cats found dead
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after two cats were found dead, suspected poisoned, in Worthing.
Jessica Clifton, of Eton Road, was left “devastated” when her cats, Princess and Felix, had to be put down by vets on Saturday, having both suffered suspected poisonings.
The RSPCA is now investigating reports the cats were poisoned deliberately.
Jessica said she was speaking out to prevent pet owners having to suffer the “devastation” of losing a pet.
The 21-year-old said: “I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I’ve been through.
“My cats were like my children – I’m devastated.
“The bottom line is, you don’t poison humans and you don’t poison animals.”
Jessica said when Princess entered her flat at around 6am on Saturday it appeared to be having fits and foaming at the mouth.
She took the cat to Heene Road Vets, but Princess could not be saved.
Then, having already witnessed one pet being put down, Jessica was told to return home and find her remaining cats before they, too, were poisoned.
She searched in an alleyway near her flat and found two of her pets.
One of them, Felix, had to be put down, while the other, Tiger, was described as “lucky to be alive” after poisons were flushed out of its body.
Her cat Scrappy is still missing, while her kitten, Gingie, is not old enough to be allowed outside.
Jessica said her vet told her it appeared the animals had been enticed into eating food laced with poison.
She is now not letting her cats out until an RSPCA investigation is concluded.
She added: “I hope Scrappy hasn’t been poisoned, but it doesn’t look good.”
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA is extremely concerned to hear about these cats being poisoned and we urge anyone who knows anything about this to contact us in confidence. “Cats suffer horribly when they are poisoned – it can cause an agonising death.
“The silent victims of any poison can also be wildlife which will often simply die a slow and agonising death and never be found.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the RSPCA, by calling 0300 1234999.
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Weather for Worthing
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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