Suffolk police are investigating following fears that cats are being poisoned in Leiston

PET owners are being warned to stay vigilant after the death of six cats in just four days amid fears they were deliberately poisoned with deadly antifreeze.

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The animals all come from the Heath View area of Leiston and have been taken to local vets suffering with acute renal failure.

At least six cats are understood to have died as a result of the poisoning and police are investigating. Fears have been raised that someone is targeting the animals and that the antifreeze is being used deliberately to cause harm.

The acute renal failure causes the kidneys to stop working and the cats will want to drink a lot more than is normal.

Catherine Boden, veterinary surgeon with Fromus Veterinary Group in Saxmundham, said: “We saw a cat on Saturday that was quite poorly and unfortunately ended up having to put it to sleep.

“It was suffering from acute renal failure and its kidneys stopped working.

“Another cat was brought in on Monday afternoon with the same symptoms and also had to be put to sleep. We think they were poisoned with antifreeze. Both of the cats came from the same road.

“It’s possible that someone has been using antifreeze and there’s a puddle somewhere that the cats are drinking from. It’s quite sweet- tasting so they want to drink it.

“However the fact that there have been quite a few incidents leads us to think that someone is deliberately poisoning them.

“Anyone who has problems with their cat should bring them in straight away – the quicker we see them, the easier it is to treat. Often we see them when it is too late.”

One of the cat owners, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a terrible thing. When you have young children and it’s a family pet, it’s awful. The children have been heartbroken.

“It happened very quickly. She [the cat] became quite poorly on Thursday and I thought she was suffering from urine problems.

“She was drinking all the time. I took her to the vet and they did a series of tests. They said it was some form of toxin in the body.

“She got no better and on Saturday morning I took her back and the vet said the best thing to do was to put her to sleep.

“I personally don’t know of anyone living here who would do something like this. It’s sick.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police confirmed they were investigating and urged anyone with information to call officers at Leiston and Aldeburgh Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.

“It looks like potentially we have had six cats die in the space of four days,” she said. “All show the same kind of symptoms and a few days later they die.

“We have to keep an open mind because it could be possible that there is an open source and the cats are drinking from it.

“However, we have undertaken house to house inquiries and we would urge anyone with information to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”