Poisoner blamed for cat deaths

By ANNE BESTON

Cat owners north of Auckland suspect a poisoner has struck again after the death of two young cats in the past six weeks.

In Rosario Crescent in Red Beach south of Orewa, about 10 cats died or became ill within a few weeks of each other early last year.

Now another two cats in the same neighbourhood have died.

They are believed to have ingested anti-freeze, the poison discovered after autopsies were carried out in two of the earlier cases.

Orewa Beach veterinarian Cathy Holgate did the autopsies after suspecting poisoning.

Other vets on the coast had also reported cases, she said.

Neighbours had distributed leaflets and had door-knocked in the area when the first deaths occurred, so it was unlikely the poisoning was accidental.

"If someone had done it accidentally, they would have hopefully been made aware by now."

The latest death was a one-year-old black cat which writhed in agony until the family could bear it no longer and had him put down.

"Some of them have been known to recover, so the vet told us to give him 24 hours," said Red Beach resident Vanessa Beare.

"But it was horrific, my children were just beside themselves."

Mrs Beare's neighbour, Victoria Hirst, had an autopsy done on her 7-year-old cat after he became sick about six months ago.

"We watched him die over three days, it was just horrible," she said.

The situation was frustrating because police had said there was little they could do.

"You would think someone would at least investigate it a little," she said.

Mrs Beare said the Orewa community constable had spoken to at least one person in connection with the cat deaths.

"Orewa police were not very sympathetic and I realise there is probably not much that can be done, but people are very emotional about it," she said.

"It's a nasty experience and a cowardly thing to do."