Two people were left horrified after they found a fox and a cat mutilated and killed outside their homes in separate incidents.

Animal lover Diarne Fletcher discovered the dead fox at around 5am on Tuesday (April 8) near her flat at Leybourne Lakes.

Warning: Graphic images below

She said when she opened her blinds she saw the wild animal in the middle of the ground and immediately thought something did not look right so went down to investigate.

The 42-year-old first thought it had been burnt as its body was black, however, she was told that the colouring was due to decomposition and it had most likely been killed days before it was dumped.

The fox’s ears had also been cut off and it had injuries to its ribcage.

Diarne said: “Either way, it is absolutely horrific. It is really, really sad. It looked like it had been through hell.

“You just try to block out that things like this happen. I am such an animal lover and it broke my heart to find it.

“I was so angry. It is sadistic that someone has the mentality to do that. What will they move on to next?”

Elsewhere in the county, a black and white cat was also found with a wound to its abdomen and body parts removed.

James Turner saw the animal dead in his front garden in Chalk, near Gravesend, on Friday, March 21.

He said: “The injuries were so horrific. We do have foxes but they would not leave it like that and it had obviously not been run over, it was intentional.

“It was a shock. I have seen the odd bird which has been killed by other animals but nothing like that.

“It appeared to be a ritual to lay it out like that which makes it so horrible. It is a terrible thing that starts with animals and then moves on to others.”

Both incidents were reported to the police which has asked anyone with information on the Gravesend incident to contact 01474 366149 quoting 21-0488.

Volunteer sleuths from the South London Animal Investigation Network (SLAIN) have now launched an investigation into the incidents in Gravesend and Leybourne.

SLAIN has since distributed leaflets in the Gravesend area appealing for information after a vet confirmed the cat’s injuries and death were “suspicious”.

It is particularly interested in gathering CCTV footage from 12pm on March 20 to 12pm on March 21 which may have captured a white car driving up and down the road.

The team would also like to hear from anyone who saw someone interacting oddly with a black and white cat or a man dressed in black with a headtorch who may have been on a bike.

You can contact the volunteer-led organisation on 07957830490 or SLAIN2019@yahoo.com if you have any information.

Its co-founder, Boudicca Rising said she believes that it is the same suspect and that they are more interested in the horror they are causing and their display of the animal rather than the killing itself.

She said these types of incidents are becoming increasingly more common alongside attacks using weapons and catapults.

She added: “We are aware of a massive rise in animal crime among teenagers. It does appear to be something on social media like a TikTok challenge.

“I would encourage everyone to report wildlife crime to the authorities. It is important that it is reported as there might be an animal which is injured and needs help.”

The incidents are the latest in a spate of animal crime in Kent.

Last week, the police confirmed it was investigating after a ragdoll cat was killed by pellets which were thought to have been shot from an air weapon in King Hill, West Malling.

It comes as the RSPCA identifies Kent as a problem area for weapon attacks on animals with 52 incidents reported to the charity in three years.

Between 2020 and 2023, the charity received 896 reports of weapon attacks with air guns, crossbows, catapults and slingshots across England and Wales.

A spokesperson added: “These weapon attacks are horrific, but what we see is likely only the tip of the iceberg and we are particularly concerned about the situation in Kent.

“It is unspeakably cruel and totally unacceptable to shoot animals for ‘fun’ or to harm an animal for target practice.

“While most people will be appalled by attacking animals with weapons, sadly the RSPCA’s experience shows there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows.

“Yet these weapons cause horrific pain and suffering. We are doing all we can to change things.

“Day after day, RSPCA frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals - severe injuries often leading to death.

“Sadly, what they deal with probably only represents a small part of a much wider problem, as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly.”