A bereaved cat owner has told how she held her pet in her arms as she was put to sleep after being poisoned with antifreeze.

Now Angela Rowe of Linksfield Road, Westgate, fears black cat Lola is the latest in a spate of cat killings.

Mrs Rowe realised something was wrong after returning from a funeral to see Lola curled up on her bed.

She was rushed to Eagle Vets in Minster on Monday, October 31, where blood tests were carried out before the news she had been poisoned was broken.

Mrs Rowe said: “She had been poisoned with antifreeze.

“The vets fought to save her life in every possible way.

“On Wednesday, November 2, I was told there was nothing more they could do, Lola was suffering.

“I went to the vet with my husband and held her in my arms as they put her to sleep, I whispered to her how much I loved her and told her she was a beautiful little girl.

“It was heartbreaking and something that will hurt me for the rest of my life.”

Angela has since been trying to track down how she came to take in the antifreeze.

"It was heartbreaking and something that will hurt me for the rest of my life" - Angela Rowe

If ingested, the chemical can cause a cat’s kidneys to fail and then eventually death.

Signs of the poisoning are vomiting, seeming depressed or sleepy, appearing drunk and uncoordinated and having difficulty with breathing and they can show 30 minutes after ingestion.

Although it can take two to three days before signs of the kidney failure start to develop.

Mrs Rowe has tracked down three other cases where cats have died after being poisoned and believes they are linked to Lola’s.

She feels the animals are being targeted as they roam the same area in a field behind Linksfield Road.

Mrs Rowe added: “I have lived in the area for the last 15 years and I have always felt it to be a safe and friendly area.

“Sadly recent events have caused me great concern and indescribable distress after the loss of Lola.”

An investigation has been opened by police.

Sergeant James Ross said: "We received a report at 4.23pm on Monday 31 October that a cat had become ill after ingesting anti-freeze in Linksfield Road, Westgate and later died."

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference number 31-0921.