tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family have lost their third cat to anti-freeze poisoning and are pleading for people to be careful with the toxic fluid.

Phil, 49, and Tina Brooks, 43, from Gorse Mead, South Ashford had already had their cats Spot and Sparta put down after being poisoned, when last week their ginger tom Flame, six, became ill.

Father-of-three Phil said: “We first realised something was wrong when he came home and instead of rubbing himself against me and jumping onto Tina’s lap to settle down, he moved very gingerly and jumped onto the settee.

“It looked like he was going to be sick as he opened his mouth. Because of losing both Spot and Sparta to anti-freeze poisoning we were concerned.”

Having no luck with an out-of-hours vet in Ashford, Flame was driven to Canterbury where it was revealed his kidneys were failing.

Put on fluids and painkillers for the night, it wasn’t until late afternoon that a urine sample could be taken and crystals – formed through anti-freeze consumption – were discovered.

Phil continued: “Once anti-freeze is in a cat’s system the cat has no hope. We said our farewells and as my daughter Aislin and I stroked his fur, he was put down.”

Earlier this year the Kentish Express carried several stories on cats suffering from anti-freeze poisoning leading to fears that someone with a grudge against cats was deliberately targeting felines.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.