FEARS have been raised that cats are being deliberately poisoned after four animals died in three weeks in one street.
Concerned residents of Woodlands Road, Bookham, said their previously healthy pets all suffered blisters and sores on the lips and tongue, as well as swollen kidneys before dying of kidney failure a few days after becoming unwell.
All of the owners were subsequently told by vets it was likely the cats had ingested antifreeze, which is very tempting to cats if mixed with milk or food.
Paul Davis' cat Alfie, the beloved pet of his seven-year-old stepson Jack, was just four years old when he died – nine days after first showing signs of sickness.
He told the Advertiser: "He came in at 3am and he was screaming his head off. It was a loud piercing scream as if he'd caught his foot under a brick."
Signs of antifreeze ingestion in cats include violent vomiting, lack of appetite for food or water and lethargy.
"We took him to one vet who gave us some pills, but they didn't have any effect," said Mr Davis.
"A few days later we took him to another one who felt his kidneys and said Alfie had been poisoned, most likely with antifreeze."
Alfie died on May 5, and is now buried in the Davis' garden after the family held a funeral for Jack to say goodbye to his companion.
"Jack was in floods of tears," continued Mr Davis, who works in recruitment. "It was awful.
"If there is someone doing this we just want them to stop."
Mr Davis found out about the other cases in Woodlands Road after a neighbour asked why an RSPCA inspector had visited.
"When I told her why, she said she had just lost two out of her three cats," he said. "It was exactly the same symptoms – vomiting and refusing to eat or drink.
"Then I was out walking the dog and bumped into another neighbour who said the same thing had happened to her cat two weeks before that.
"That's four cats dead on this road in the space of three weeks."
Mr Davis said an RSPCA officer had told him the cats could have drunk from garden water features contaminated with antifreeze to combat sub-zero temperatures.
However, he said it was considered likely that the poisoning was malicious – possibly with foxes being the intended target.
Simon Cowell, founder of the Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead, said: "It's appalling that anyone can be so heartless and inhumane.
"If people are putting out antifreeze in bowls for animals to lick it will kill them.
"It's a criminal act, they are breaking the law and if they are caught they will go to prison for it.
"I just find it impossible to believe.
"It's horrible, it's inhumane and it's cruel. It's absolutely horrific."
Surrey Police spokeswoman Dawn Groom said: "Surrey Police is aware of reports that cats have died in what are believed to be suspicious circumstances.
"The RSPCA are leading the investigation into these reports and Surrey Police will assist them in anyway they can."
Anyone who is concerned their cat may have been poisoned should take them to a vet immediately so they can be attached to an IV drip for rehydration and to have their system flushed of all harmful substances.
