RSPCA chiefs are urging cat owners to remain calm after six cats were found with their heads missing.

According to postings on Facebook they were all discovered by passers-by in the Quinton area last week.

One of two which were found “dumped” at the side of the road outside the village hall in Quinton Road was reported to Kent police on Monday and the case passed over to the animal charity.

A warning about the incidents on the site The Gossip Board - Sittingbourne caused widespread panic with more than 150 people posting messages condemning those responsible for the “attacks” and many branding the perpetrator/s as “sickos”.

One witness wrote: “I can tell you this cat had most definitely had not been killed by a fox, its head had been cut clean off with something sharp and no other injuries as far as I can see.

But the charity says its unlikely the pets met such a grisly death.

It claims post mortems carried out on more than 100 headless cats found in London a few years ago proved, in each case, the animal had already been killed or died, sometimes in a road accident, and subsequently eaten by wildlife, namely a fox.

Professor Stephen Harris, who carried out the tests, said because some animals’ teeth are not very strong they actually tear the head from the carcass.

As the teeth marks are not visible to the naked eye it appears to be a clean cut caused by a human with a knife.

A spokesman said: “These deaths must be a very upsetting for the cats’ owners.

“However, we want to reassure pet owners that thankfully acts of deliberate violence against dead cats are rare and thorough research has shown that these kind of injuries are caused by wildlife after death and due to the small teeth it leaves a very clean wound.

“This would not even be apparent to a vet without an in-depth post mortem.”

Concerns have also been raised after two cats were found covered in a glue-like substance in the Milton area in the last two week.

One was caught with its fur shaved by a concerned animal lover.

It has since been reunited with its owner.

The other is said to be still wandering the streets.

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