A HEARTBROKEN cat owner has spoken of her anguish after her cat was ‘deliberately’ poisoned.


Angela Priestley’s cat Pedro had to be put to sleep on Wednesday after ingesting anti-freeze.


On the same day her neighbour’s cat also suffered the same fate, leading vets to believe they were deliberately poisoned by someone leaving anti-freeze in meat.


Mrs Priestley, 57, of, Fothergill Street in Colne, has branded whoever is responsible as ‘terrible’ and said she has been left heartbroken by Pedro’s death, who she and her husband Mick had taken in as a rescue cat three years ago.


Mrs Priestley, who works for a housing association, said: “Pedro came back on Monday and he was being sick.


“I didn’t think it was anything out of he ordinary because sometimes cats are sick.


“But he started making really hard moaning noises. My husband took him to the vets and they gave him some injections.


“We came back home and he didn’t improve and he was in agony.


“We took him back to the vets and they did some tests and said his kidneys had packed in and he was in a lot of pain.We had to put him down.


“He was only a young cat. He never had health problems.


“He was really friendly, loving and was a real character.


“Our neighbour’s cat had to be put down on the same day. It was displaying the same symptoms.


“What’s happened to them both is wrong. It’s heartbreaking that there is such people out there who would do something like this.


“The vet thinks whoever did it put meat out with anti-freeze in it.


“It’s a terrible thing to do. This is heartbreaking.” How am I supposed to tell my grandkids? 


“I just want to warn other cat owners to be aware that there is someone out there doing this. I would hate it to happen to somebody else.”


An RSPCA spokesman said: “If you suspect your pet’s come into contact with antifreeze, leaked water coolant or if showing signs of vomiting, depression or sleepiness, appearing drunk, difficulty breathing or seizures, get it to a vet immediately. Signs of antifreeze poisoning can show 30 minutes after ingestion.” It can be two to three days before signs of kidney failure are seen.


“The sooner your pet receives veterinary treatment, the better their chances of survival. If left untreated, antifreeze poisoning can cause pain, suffering and distress and ultimately death.”

- Have you been affected by something similar to your pet? Get in touch and send us an email to robert.kelly@nqnw.co.uk