A DEVASTATED woman said having cats in Malvern was a 'death sentence' after she claimed three of hers had died after being poisoned.

Lucy Symmonds said she has had to endure the traumatic experience with her children as well as pay around £3,000 in vet bills because of the alleged poisonings. 

On Monday, June 23, West Mercia Police received a report from a resident on Ramsons Close in Malvern that a number of cats had died in the area.

Miss Symmonds said two years ago, two of her three cats, Dusty and Dora, had to be put to sleep after they had been poisoned. 

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She added she believed they were poisoned by antifreeze and said her cats were among around ten who died around that time. 

Noticing her remaining cat was lonely, last August Miss Symmonds decided to buy another kitten, Douglas. 

She further claimed on May 15, she became extremely worried after Douglas became unwell. 

She said: "I could tell straight away something wasn't right, he was walking funny and had been sick. 

"I took him to the vets and they said he had a bad back and gave him an anti-inflammatory. 

"I still wasn't convinced given my past experiences, so I took him back in and within half an hour I was told my cat had been poisoned and needed to be put down."

Miss Symmonds said she knew of around five cats that had recently been poisoned. 

She added: "I am devastated, my children want us to have cats but I won't get another one as it's like giving them a death sentence.

"I have grown up with cats since I was a small child, but losing them is an emotional strain on me and the children as well as a big financial burden to pay to have them put down."

She said she has got in touch with councillor Paul Bennett as well as West Mercia Police and several other organisations and wanted to raise awareness of the situation. 

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "On Monday, June 23, we received a report from a resident on Ramsons Close in Malvern that a number of cats have died in the area following suspected poisonings. 

 "Enquires into this report are ongoing."

The Gazette contacted vets in the Malvern area but none were willing to go on the record.

Contact pickersleighandchase.snt@westmercia.police.uk if you have any information about the suspected cat poisonings.