A cat had to be put down after consuming antifreeze in Stewarton at the weekend.
The Scottish SPCA has issued a stark warning after the moggy, named Velvet, was put to sleep ahead of its first birthday.
The charity, who described the incident as 'incredibly distressing', doesn't believe this was deliberate but has warned the public to store antifreeze safely.
A poorly Velvet was discovered wobbly and lethargic by her owner on the town's Lothian Road on Sunday.
Her owner rushed her to an out of hours vet but nothing could be done to save the moggy and she had to be put down.
Pet owners have also been warned to look out for the signs of antifreeze poisoning.
Scottish SPCA inspector, Caitlin Rea said: “This has been an incredibly distressing, sad time for Velvet’s owner and our thoughts are with them.
“This has been a very sad outcome for a young, otherwise healthy cat and we’d like to ensure that no other owners in the area suffer this heart-breaking situation.
“At present, there’s nothing to suggest this was a deliberate act, although we’d always encourage the public to report anything suspicious.
“It’s common for cats to access garages or areas where antifreeze may not be stored safely so we are appealing for local residents to please check anywhere that they think might be a risk.
“It is essential that everyone stores antifreeze out of reach of cats and other animals and checks routinely to make sure there are no leaks. Ethylene glycol is highly poisonous and causes a very slow, painful death.
“There are strict guidelines for use and anyone who uses this substance to cause deliberate harm is committing an offence.
“We’d also ask local cat owners to be vigilant and to seek urgent veterinary treatment if their cat appears unwell.
“If anyone is concerned about the welfare of animals in their local area, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
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