A cat owner has spoken of her horror after her beloved pet was found hanging on a fence with its tail severed.

Sick thugs wedged Ellie, a two-year-old black and white moggy, in the spikes at the top of the fence near her home.

Owner Kerrie Excell, of Shamrock Road, Gravesend, told KentOnline: "I've no idea who did this to a defenceless little animal but whoever it was is obviously a bit sick in the head."

It's not known how she died, or if she was dead when she was left on the fence.

Ellie was discovered on Christmas Eve, but the appeal has just been made.

RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher said: "We think that Ellie was put there deliberately as it is unlikely that she could have climbed up there.

"She had no other injuries, apart from her tail being cut off.

"We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious from mid-morning through lunchtime on Christmas Eve to come forward.

"The family had been out looking for Ellie and had already looked in the area of the fence, so we can pinpoint the time she was left there fairly exactly," said inspector Fletcher.

"The fence is at the end of an alleyway near the family’s home.

"It is overlooked by a row of houses in Havengore Avenue, so it is possible that someone could have seen something," said inspector Fletcher.

Anyone with information about Ellie should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 4999.