A CAT was force fed anti-freeze and died a "pitiful, lingering death".

It was attacked in Creekmoor, Poole - the scene of two cat knife attacks last October.

The five-year-old black cat died on Wednesday and is believed to have been poisoned on Friday, December 28.

The husband of the owner, from near Woodpecker Drive, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "He seemed really shy when he came home.

"Then he crawled under the TV and just lay sprawled out when me moved him."

Ricko' was taken to the vets but did not survive.

PC Wayne Collins of Gravel Hill police, said: "The cat died a pitiful lingering death and it must have been in terrible pain with its internal organs badly damaged or destroyed.

"The vet believes the cat had been force-fed with an anti-freeze mixture or something similar as a cat wouldn't willingly drink such a liquid."

Police said they could not rule out a link to the two attacks last year when one cat was nearly cut in half and someone tried to cut the tail off another.

The husband said: "If people don't want a cat in their garden, they can just shoo them away. We have two children and they don't think of the consequences."

The area's RSPCA Insp Graham Hammond said: "We will investigate any reports of animal cruelty and this is a horrible thing for someone to have done."

  • Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.