Poisoned cat - a question please

[EastMids2]

Last year I posted about a nasty cat-hating old man neighbour who, for lost of reasons including a toxicology report from vet narrowing down the poison to household chemicals, I suspected of poisoning one of my two cats. Thankfully after intensive treatment (and a bill of over £600 ouch, no insurance) she recovered fully.

Same cat went missing Monday evening. I had a call from another neighbour yesterday morning saying that her friend (living next door to cat-hater) had found a cat in their garden, obviously very sick. It was my lovely little cat and I saw immediately that she was displaying the same symptoms as before - coldness, yellow inside ears and eyes, pupils dilated etc. Rushed to vet, who agreed, especially the mouth/jaws clamped shut when attempting to get fluids into her before a drip set up (caused by the fear associated with being force fed poison we think). All exactly like last time, except that she was too far gone and died early this morning.

I'm writing this very matter of fact but really so upset that she obviously suffered fear and pain, and just thought of something I forgot to ask the vet - when I collected her, she'd bitten hard onto the towel I wrapped her in and as rigor mortis had set in by this time, we had to cut it out of her mouth (sorry, that sounds so awful and it was) but can anyone tell me why she did this biting? I just can't believe she's dead and can't prove 100% who did this to her.

That's really awful :( I am so sorry this happened to your lovely cat, and you. Whoever did it is evil and I hope karma catches up with them!!

i would still report it to police. did you report last time? i know many cops will roll eyes but its actually an offence to cause an animal to suffer - you suspect poison. the vet agrees.

i would report it - nothing will happen as there will be no evidence - but report it anyway.
and contact the RSPCA too. They have helped me in the workplace before to bring about prosecutions for animal cruelty.

what makes you suspect the old man?

Oh god that's so evil what a horrid horrid person to do this to an animal .
I second contacting the police/rspca & hopefully they will do something

they will not be able to do something - to have reasonable chance of prosecution you need evidence.
there is none.
though i would get a report from the vet and inform RSPCA and police of suspicions.
but without evidence you are not going to get anywhere.

i am interested to know why OP thinks the old man is responsible?

Thank you for that info Vicar. As I said, I have (had) two cats - both female but they really didn't get on with each other - older cat is 11 and younger one 4. I really thought that once the "annoying the older cat whilst being a kitten" stage was done, they would get along but sadly not and lived here sort of separately.

Last summer the older cat took to visiting other neighbours and, if they gave her tidbits, she would favour them with her presence for a day or so. I always knew roughly where she was and asked people not to feed her, but anyway it continued. Then she was away for 3 days, during which time I'd searched and asked people to check garages and sheds etc. Eventually told by nice neighbour my cat had been seen in window of reclusive old man. I went round and he was quite blase about it - said he thought it was a stray and seemed very happy to come in. Then he mentioned another cat that had been hanging around (my other one) but that this cat was a "vicious bully" and he had scared it off. I took my old lady back and asked him not to feed her again. Cats being what they are, she found her way back and he obviously continued to feed her whilst shouting and throwing things at my younger cat (I caught him doing this).

Last summer when young cat (vicious bully haha) went missing I knocked and he eventually answered and admitted she was in his house! Obviously I demanded her back. It all got a bit strange then and a few days later he came to my house saying the "vicious bully" was lying in his garden looking very poorly, which is when I took her to vet and the subject of poisoning came up.

Sorry this is so rambling, but it's just such a coincidence she was found next door to cat-hater's house and with exactly the same symptoms, which is why I suspect him trying the harm her again.

you have absolutely no evidence then to suspect the neighbour.

why would he poison the cats when he clearly enjoyed having them in the house?

i would still report it - and get a report from the vet.

but you have no grounds to accuse the elderly neighbour - so i wouldnt name names or accuse. It sounds more like he liked having your cats come to visit - why would he poison them? has he said he doesnt like them? what about him makes him the 'cat hating' neighbour?

Sorry, maybe I'm not explaining this quite right. I'll try again and then if you really think I'm over-reacting will accept, no problem.

1. Older of the two cats gets the hump with younger ones antics and goes off to various neighbours - I've asked them not to encourage by feeding.

1. Last summer when she'd been gone for 3 days I started to get worried and began searching. Was told she had been seen in the window of old man's house.

1. When I knocked, he said he thought she was a stray so he had kept her in.

1. He mentioned another cat "the vicious bully" had been hanging around but he had scared it off. This is my gentle but playful younger cat.

1. I took older cat back home and asked him not to feed her any more, but she continued going back for more treats (getting breakfast at home then another one, the cheeky madam) and I kept collecting her.

1. During this time I witnessed him shouting and throwing things at younger cat (driving past coincidentally) which he'd obviously taken a dislike to.

1. Soon after, younger cat went missing and he eventually admitted she was in his house as well. I asked him not to encourage either cat inside but both will do anything for food.

1. A few days later he came round to say young cat was in his garden and not well. He has a very odd manner about him and I do not feel comfortable in his presence, but that's probably by the by.

1. Rushed cat to vet, extensive tests, liver scans, medication etc which eventually narrowed the illness to be toxins (household chemicals). She eventually recovered. I kept her inside for a month but she was desperate to be out and about and until the weekend all was fine. Nobody ever sees old man out and we've certainly not spoken since.

10. Young cat missing again at weekend, found with exactly the same symptoms attributable to household chemical poisoning, in garden next to old mans house. This is the cat he hates and threw things at on more than one occasion! It would appear he is enticing them in, keeping them and coincidentally the cat he dislikes intensely has suffered poisoning twice in close proximity. If it were something like slug killer poisoning or a toxic plant that would be different, but household chemicals and the vet's opinion she had been force fed?

Goodness that was a bit rambling again and Vicar I will totally accept your opinion, i'm probably just a bit over emotional and it's very late.

That's a wicked thing to do to a cat. Your poor cat.

I'm so sorry you've lost her. I'd report it to the police too.

I.can see why you think its him, but its speculation. I would still report it however, and why you suspect the neighbour. I would also pay him a visit and tell him not.to feed or encourage your cat into his house. I would maybe mention that since the cats have been found shut in his house and that now one of them has been poisoned (twice) that it leaves him open to suspicion. ...hint but dont accuse. he could just be a lonely old man who likes your older cat. .... I would talk to RSPCA and report the poisoning.

How awful, your poor cat

Definately report it.

Wise words, Vicar. I have talked to RSPCA and have similar advice. I can't actually face him at the moment but all the curtains in house are drawn (instead of just the downstairs ones which have been closed for years) and his car isn't on the drive, so looks like he's not there anyway.

Buried her this morning, lovely spring day when she should be stretched out in the sun. I'll get some bulbs for on top of her to flower next spring.

Even if she has been poisoned with household chemicals you will not be able to prove that it has been done deliberately. She could have wandered into anybody's house (open door or cat flap) or an open shed and lapped up some chemicals. You will never be able to prove that somebody has held down your cat and force fed them chemicals.

I quite agree Impatient, which is why I'm not going down that route.

I lost three cats to poisoning three years ago. A couple of other cats belonging to our road died around the same time. We never knew who did it BUT we had no more after the Police circulated a letter to everyone regarding it. It didn't point fingers but said that they were aware and added as a precaution for everyone to check sheds etc for things such as antifreeze. So I would speak to the police about it OP.

i cant understand anyone who would hurt an animal - im glad you managed to bury her. you have my sympathies - i love my animals. i would be distraught if anyone hurt them.

im glad you reported to RSPCA too. when you can face it go and hint at him....

best of luck, and i hope your other cat stays safe.
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