A CAT has been decapitated and its body dumped in its owners back garden, just metres from a children’s playground in Farnham Park.
Late on Saturday (June 9) afternoon, Cats Protection Farnham and Wey Valley received a report of the family pet being found dead and that its head had been removed.
According to the charity, the killing bears all the hallmarks of the so-called UK Cat Killer, and has been referred to the police.
Following the attack, cat owners in Farnham have been advised to keep their cats indoors overnight and "to be very aware".
The local Cats Protection branch posted on its Facebook page on Monday: "As you can understand this is very shocking and upsetting for the owners who found her in their back garden that backs onto Farnham Park close to the Adventure Playground.”
Surrey Police has been informed and photographic evidence submitted to South Norwood Animal Rescue & Liberty (SNARL), which is investigating a series of similar incidents linked to the UK Cat Killer.
“From this evidence SNARL have confirmed this was done by human hand,” added the Cats Protection spokesman.
“Based on the surroundings and the way this has been done it has been officially linked to Operation Takahe or better known as the ‘UK Cat Killer’.
“We therefore issue a warning to local cat owners to be very aware and where possible keep your cats in at night.”
Anybody in the area of the bottom of Farnham Park on Friday evening or the early hours of Saturday morning, or anybody who witnessed anything suspicious at those times, is asked to call Surrey Police on 101 quoting crime reference P18124676.
It comes just a week after Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection issued a warning to cat owners following reports of cats in the Weybourne area returning home with green garden twine attached to them.
On the morning of June 6, one cat was found with the string attached to its neck and another with it wrapped around its hind leg.
The issue could be a gardening-related accident, although Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection want to make cat owners aware and reassure people it is something that will be looked into.
One concerned Facebook user commented on the Cats Protection post saying: "It’s bit of a coincidence to be an accident."
A lost and found volunteer for the charity, Bryan Blencowe, said: "We would like to take this opportunity to say that we have also been in contact with SNARL (South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty) who are investigating a huge scale cat mutilation cases, however at this time it is not believed to be related."
Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection can also be notified of any suspicious incidents on 01252 334644.
More to follow…