We don’t usually have too many problems involving cruelty to cats, but there has been a turnaround recently, and we’ve received reports from different areas of people ill-treating cats that ‘trespass’ on their property. Two Persians that had been abused by neighbours were recently rescued.

And then there were the episodes of cat poisonings in Bonamore Road off Davenport Road in Glenwood. Jacqui received a call one Monday morning to warn that cats were being poisoned. The first was a black and white cat with a collar and bell that had been found in a dustbin. A lady asked Jacqui to come and see her and to bring gloves and a mask as the cat was decomposing! It had apparently been found dead on the pavement. The body was in a blown-up condition. There were no outward injuries. There was a cell number on the collar, and the owner was notified and was very upset. She buried the cat in the back garden of the block of flats, along with a laminated photograph.

Jacqui interviewed people in the road and found that on Sunday a man out walking his dog had found a grey cat dead on the pavement. He appeared to suspect somebody in particular, but Jacqui questioned this person, who had two very healthy dogs. She found no cause for suspicion. The Umbilo police were notified, and a detective offered assistance, including in interviewing people. Warning notices from the SPCA were handed out in the area.

The following day, a lady from the area phoned and said a white Persian had been taken to the SPCA for cremation when it had been found dead. The owner thought that it had died from natural causes because it was fourteen years old (which is not an excessive age for a cat), but now wondered whether it had fallen victim to the poisoner.

Jacqui returned to the area the following day and spoke to neighbours and to the police. Then a man reported that he had found a dead ginger and white cat. That made four deaths in three days.

It is felt that the poisoner lives close by and will be caught in due course. There were symptoms of poisoning evident in these deaths, such as frothing at the mouth, but no proof of anyone’s involvement. A neighbour offered the security guard a reward of R500 if he comes across anything suspicious that could lead either to an arrest or even to a specific investigation that could cause the poisonings to cease. She has five cats and every reason to be concerned.

The Umbilo police have been very co-operative, from the top official down. At the time of going to press, no further information has come to light.... more reports »