Published: Thursday, 21st May, 2009 7:00am

Dead cats' tails were 'cut off'

by Annabel Williams

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AN ANIMAL-hating killer is being blamed after two cats were found dead in the same area - one with a bullet-style wound through the head.

Owners are now warning others to keep their pets in at night.

A neighbour discovered Catherine Gaudy"s cat, Lucky, on the morning of May 4 in Derby Road, Caversham.

A post mortem revealed 13-year-old Lucky died of head injuries which included a bullet-like hole and another wound to the back of her neck. Her tail had been completely severed.

Miss Gaudy said: 'I am very upset. You see the people living in your street, your neighbours, and you have no reason not to trust them. I just cannot explain why someone would want to do this to an animal.'

The secretary now keeps her other cat, Tiger, inside at night to prevent the same thing happening.

When Miss Gaudy put posters up appealing for information, Chris Latto told her that one of his cats, Flossy, had been found dead a month earlier - also with her tail missing.

Mr Latto, of nearby Ellesmere Close, said: 'She had been buried in some sand and her tail was missing.

'She had a mark on her right front leg but I didn"t look too carefully at what other injuries she had, we just wanted to bury her quickly because we were upset.

'I asked my vet why Flossy"s tail might have been missing. He said she had either been hit by a car, in which case it would be hanging off, or someone had cut it off.'

Mr Latto, who lives with wife Birgitta and has kept cats for 40 years, added: 'Whoever did this, I hope they get caught so they don"t carry on doing anything horrible.'

Contact Caversham police team on 08458 505505.

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