Is Malvern cat killer back on the loose? Police launch hunt as four pets are fatally poisoned - 13 years after 20 animals were killed with anti-freeze in same area
Police are on the hunt for a cat killer after four pets were fatally poisoned in the same area where 20 animals were killed 13 years ago.
Each feline has died in similar circumstances in or around Ramsons Close in Malvern, Worcestershire, in recent weeks.
The discoveries have led to fears that the Malvern cat killer is back on the loose, more than a decade after he or she terrorised the hilly area by poisoning a spate of pets with anti-freeze.
In June 2011, at least 20 cats were found dead or had to be put to sleep by vets who said it looked like they had ingested the substance, which cats enjoy due to its sweet taste.
Heartbroken owners told today how their cats suddenly fell ill and were rushed to the vets, where they were euthanised due to organ failure.
Lucy Simmons's cat Douglas (pictured) died after being poisoned in Malvern, Worcestershire
Mother-of-two Lucy Simmons said: 'Losing him has left me absolutely heartbroken'
Mother-of-two Lucy Simmons, who lives on Ramsons Close, said: 'My kitten Douglas was literally like my child.
'Losing him has left me absolutely heartbroken.
'I noticed he was not well so I took him to the vets, where blood tests discovered he'd been poisoned.
'I had to collect my children from school so they could say goodbye to him.
'He was put to sleep in my arms.
'He was so poorly he fell asleep in my arms before he was even put to sleep.'
Tabitha Webb said her six-year-old cat Luna died in similar circumstances on the same road.
'We had a really horrible incident when a neighbour brought our cat over to us, he found our cat in his garden. Very lifeless.
'The signs that my cat had were kidney failure, she was neurologically basically gone, it was very horrible.
'It has completely destroyed my 18-year-old daughter, who had looked after Luna since she was a kitten.
'I could never buy a cat on this street, I feel like it would be a death sentence.'
In 2011 at least 20 cats including Boris, pictured with owner Ciara Stocker, died after being poisoned in a quiet Malvern cul-de-sac
Merlin, who belonged to Amanda Ryder, died 13 years ago after being fed anti-freeze
Bubbles pictured before his death in 2011 in Malvern as part of a spate of cat killings
West Mercia Police said they had received a report that 'a number of cats had died in the area, following suspected poisonings'. The force has launched an investigation into the deaths.
In 2011, 16 cats were put to sleep by vets with five more pets, including a dog, reported missing from the same area.
Cats poisoned with antifreeze suffer a painful death as it crystallises in the kidneys.
Just two tea spoons of the liquid - which contains lethal ethylene glycol - is thought to be enough to kill a cat unless treatment is sought within 60 minutes.
More recently, seven cats died from poisoning in Redditch, Worcestershire, in 2022. A further cat was killed a year later.
