Pontardawe Cat Owners Urged To Be Cautious After Suspected Local Incidents

Cat owners in Pontardawe have been urged to be cautious, following concerns of suspected cat poisoning incidents in the local area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after a local resident – Muslimah Miah – recently lost her cat Lily, who was little over one-year-old. A toxicology report, from a local veterinary practice, confirmed the poisoning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Miss Miah lost another cat to a poisoning 18 months ago, whilst a neighbour’s cat is also understood to have gone through the same fate, prompting concern and a plea for vigilance from the RSPCA. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Suspected poisonings are a major concern for RSPCA Cymru, with other recent incidents occurring in Caerphilly, Pontyclun and Llandysul. The charity is reminding members of the public of the steps they should take, if they believe their cat may have been poisoned. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA animal welfare officer Paula Milton said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Once again, RSPCA Cymru sadly needs to appeal for information about a suspected cat poisoning incident. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is not known if the cats were poisoned deliberately or whether these incidents were a tragic accident, but we are deeply troubled by these reports from Pontardawe, and urge anyone with information to get in touch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The RSPCA’s inspectorate appeal line can be reached on 0300 123 8018, with all calls treated in confidence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is imperative that members of the public know the signs and symptoms of a suspected cat poisoning, and know what to do. Given these local reports, it is really important that cat owners are cautious. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Owners must stay calm, remove their pet from any suspected source of poison, contact their vet straight away and follow their advice.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lily’s owner Muslimah Miah said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This has been a heartbreaking and horrible experience. Lily was part of the family, and I am devastated to lose her in such circumstances. The poisoning was so bad that she was bleeding from the inside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I hope anyone with any information will respond to this RSPCA appeal, and help find out how this happened to poor Lily. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We share our local community with many cats. It is vitally important that people pay close attention to what they are leaving in their gardens and outdoor spaces. Anything which can be done to avoid events like this happening in the future is positive.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​