Police Investigating Cat Death

16 December 2013, 11:17 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police are appealing for more information to help establish whether a cat was the victim of deliberate cruelty after she was injured in a traffic collision.

At around 5pm on Monday, November 4, 2013, the collision occurred between a 20-month old black female cat and a car occurred in Woodfield Avenue in Portsmouth. 

The driver of the car stopped and told the cat's owner what had happened. An immediate search at that time did not find the cat. On Wednesday, November 6 at around 11am, the cat was found in a nearby garden. 

Her head and body had become detached. 

It is not known for sure whether the cat died as a result of the collision or afterwards. Police have made enquiries and appeals in the surrounding community over the past month. 

The driver of the car is not suspected of any crime. 

Investigating officer Sergeant Matthew Cumming of the Cosham Safer Neighbourhoods team said: 

"We recognise and understand the deep distress these events have caused to the cat's owner. We've pursued several lines of enquiry so far. Police must keep an open mind about what may have happened to the cat. Hampshire Constabulary is grateful to the RSPCA for its expert advice during the investigation. I would encourage anyone with information to contact police." 

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: 

"This must be a very upsetting for the cat's owner. We want to reassure pet owners that thankfully acts of deliberate violence against dead cats are rare and thorough research has shown that these kind of injuries are caused by wildlife after death and due to the small teeth it leaves a very clean wound. This would not even be apparent to a vet without an in depth post mortem."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Matthew Cumming at Cosham Station by phoning 101. Mini-Com users can call the police on 18001 101. 

Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.