SSPCA inspectors probe ‘poisoning’ of three pet cats

Oct 9 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

A CONCERNED resident of West Craigs in Hamilton has warned animal owners in the area to be on their guard – after three cats have died from suspected poisoning.

The 29-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, is concerned after two of his pets died last week, within 24 hours of each other.

And this week, the Aberfeldy Avenue resident urged fellow cat owners to keep their pets safe when a neighbour’s cat also died from suspected poisoning.

He said: “I just want people to be aware of what has happened so no other animals are harmed.

“My cats may have been poisoned deliberately, I don’t know.

“But I would like to think nobody aroundhere would do such a thing.”

Last Monday, September 29, the man’s first pet – a five-year-old black and white cat – became unwell.

The resident and his wife took the animal to a vet.

The cat was kept in the surgery overnight, but died the following morning.

Later that day – September 30 – the couple’s second cat collapsed in their house. The animal , a four-year-old tabby, was put down the next day.

“They had exactly the same symptoms,” commented the 29-year-old resident.

“It was almost as if they had both suffered a stroke. They became very thirsty and dizzy and they kept falling over. The vet said it was very unusual for my cats to have died under these circumstances in such a short space of time.

“He believes that anti-freeze could be the cause of the deaths, but he also said it could easily have been a careless driver who has not disposed of car fluids, such as oil, properly.”

The resident contacted the SSPCA, who will be investigating the cats’ deaths. However, this week, the RSPCA could not confirm specific circumstances.

WORRY: three cats have died in the past week in the West Craigs estate, right.

ANIMAL DEATHS: the cats died in the Ben View area.