Sweep at home in Deal after his ordeal

Sweep the cat has two fewer lives - after he twice survived eating rat poison left for him in food.

The RSPCA is investigating after the long-haired male, aged 14 months, found and ate fish sabotaged with the substance.

The rat poison was left wrapped in fish in his owners' garden in Bruce Close, Deal, on two separate ocassions.

Sweep's owner first took him to the vet in January when he fell ill.

The vet said his symptoms were consistent with poisoning and his kidneys were failing, but after expert treatment he recovered.

Then, last week, Sweep was spotted again eating something in the garden.

His owner went out and found a piece of white fish about four inches long.

It had been filleted and stuffed with what Sweep's vet thinks was rat poison or slug pellets - and then trussed up with string.

Rat poison was found inside this fish - left in Sweep the cat's Deal garden

RSPCA inspector Julia Fuller said: "The very fact that the poison was placed inside a piece of food suggests it was a deliberate attempt to poison something.

"Sweep was poorly again and he was rushed to the vet where they made him sick to remove the poison and put him on a drip - luckily he has recovered again.

"Obviously his owner is now terrified of letting Sweep, another cat and a dog into the garden.

"A lot of her neighbours have cats that come into the garden and she is worried for them as well."

The RSPCA said anyone who deliberately poisons a cat faces a £20,000 fine and/or six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act.

Anyone with information is urged to phone the RSPCA cruelty and information line on 0300 1234999.