Missing cats' deaths linked to bird poison

Some cats reported missing around Wanganui have been found dead after they ingested bird poison.

Police believe these are isolated cases, unrelated to the main issue of killed, injured, or missing pets. "A few cats that were reported missing have been found dead. They died due to ingesting bird poison, likely from eating a bird that has eaten it," Constable G Singh said.

"The bird poison causes paralysis in cats and they are unable to move. This means they generally die wherever the poison takes full effect. There were only two cases of dogs being poisoned and these were likely to be isolated from an overall issue."

Mr Singh last month asked members of the public to contact him if their pets had been killed or had disappeared, as news of pet killings had reached police.

They had heard of one cat in Alma Rd that was shot with an arrow and had to be put down.

"There have been a few incidents like that in the past month, and that has prompted us to investigate further," Mr Singh said at the time.

Following the information about the bird poison, he was continuing his inquiries, and urged the public to "remain vigilant around their pets and to forward me all information around any suspicious activity".

Mr Singh was unsure why people would be poisoning birds in the first place, "however, people do funny, unexplainable things a lot".

"It's an ongoing investigation and the information around bird poisoning is from vets dealing with the dead and dying animals.

"Not a large percentage of missing animals have been found poisoned, that is why we are not closing the investigation, as we believe this may just be a few isolated cases separated from the main issue."

As well as cats going missing or being killed in Gonville and Wanganui East, some dogs had also been poisoned.

If you have any information to pass on, contact Whanganui police through Facebook, or call Constable Singh on 349 0689.