Cat Owners In Blackwood Urged To Be Vigilant Following Cat Poisoning
RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information following a suspected cat poisoning in Blackwood.
Abel the white-and-grey tabby cat returned to his Penywelod Road home in Markham on Sunday (September 18) and by the next day he was dragging his back leg and was being sick.
His owner Charlotte Postians took him straight to her vet and blood tests were carried out.
“I didn’t know what was happening,” she said. “The vet said he was a healthy cat but his blood showed signs of poisoning.”
Abel who is only a year-old was put on a drip but sadly his condition deteriorated.
“He was extremely unwell but he knew I was there,” said Charlotte. “He lifted up his head and went back to sleep.”
Charlotte then the made the difficult decision that the kindest thing was to put him to sleep.
“I posted what happened on Facebook and a few people have contacted me saying the same thing has happened to their cats in the area,” she said. “Abel never went far so it must have happened nearby.
“It is a horrible way to die. He died of kidney failure. I’m so angry and upset.”
RSPCA inspector Izzi Hignell said: “Our thoughts are with Abel’s owner who is devastated to have lost her cat in this way.
“We don’t know whether this was accidental or deliberate or who may have done it. We are appealing for information to try and find out what happened.
“We’re also calling on all cat owners in the Blackwood area to be vigilant and to take their cat to a vets straight away if they suspect they have been poisoned.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA Inspectorate information line on 0300 123 8018. Calls will be treated in confidence. Poisoning a cat deliberately is a criminal offence.
Potential signs of poisoning could include vomiting, seeming depressed/sleepy, appearing drunk and uncoordinated, seizures, difficulty breathing, increased thirst, increased urination.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum penalty for those found guilty of cat poisoning is up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £20,000.
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