Fears after FOUR cats have died from suspected antifreeze poisoning in the same Derbyshire street

Tests suggest that four of the cats who lived in King Street, Alfreton, had ingested the toxic substance and sadly died over the Christmas and New Year period. Another has gone missing presumed dead.

One owner Luke Wright told how one of his cats Poll (a black and ginger cat aged two) was found dragging her kitten Patch (a black and white cat aged 11 months) up the drive of their home on December 23.

Luke and his girlfriend Shannon Yeomans realised Patch, who is owned by a neighbour, was very ill and convulsing so they alerted his owner who rushed him to the vets but sadly he died.

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Luke said Poll went missing the day after on Christmas Eve and has not been seen since. He suspects she too may have been poisoned and has died.

Then on December 27 his other cat Harvey (a ginger cat aged 11 months) came home and looked ill - so they rushed him to the vets but it was too late and he also died from suspected antifreeze poisoning.

Luke said since these incidents on January 5 a letter was distributed by a neighbour warning cat owners to be aware as two of her pets had also died of suspected poisoning.

Luke said: “We were really upset and my girlfriend Shannon has taken it really badly - they are family members so to see them suffering was awful.

“Poll was really brave knowing Patch was ill and dragging him home - but it proved too late and she didn’t seem herself afterwards.

“She went missing the day after and we know she will have been upset about Patch but we also wonder if she was poisoned but didn’t make it home.

“Then Harvey came home and we saw him on the patio and he just looked drunk so we realised he too may have ingested antifreeze so we rushed him to the vet’s but it was too late to save him.

“For four cats to die in a similar way in the same street and for another to be missing is concerning so we reported the matter to the RSPCA.

“It is too late for these cats but we hope a warning may save other lives.

“We have one cat left called Oscar (a tabby, aged three) and we are now having to keep him indoors.”

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RSPCA inspector Rachel Leafe, who is investigating, said: “We are very concerned that four cats in the same area have apparently died from antifreeze poisoning and another cat is missing.

“At this stage we do not know if these were accidental incidents or deliberate but we would ask for everyone in the area to check where they keep their pesticides and chemicals including antifreeze and make sure it is secure and out of the way of cats."

Deliberately poisoning a protected animal like a cat or a dog is an offence and carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone who has information about these incidents should contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.