A cat has died of 'antifreeze poisoning' just days before its first birthday, prompting an animal welfare charity to issue a stark warning to owners.
Velvet was discovered 'wobbly and lethargic' by her owner outside a property on Lothian Road in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, on Sunday, September 11.
Alarmed by the state of her declining health, Velvet's owner rushed the feline to an out of hours vet where medics sadly confirmed that she was suffering from antifreeze poisoning. Sadly the cat had to be put to sleep a short time later.
Now, Scottish SPCA are alerting pet owners to the dangers of antifreeze, which is an engine coolant containing ethylene glycol, a highly poisonous substance that causes a very slow, painful death for animals.
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.
"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."
The tragic accident comes after two cats from the same street in Bathgate, West Lothian died within a week of each other from suspected antifreeze poisoning last month.
One of the cats, Frankie, had suffered kidney and brain damage before his death - two classic symptoms of antifreeze poisoning.
In this instance, although the charity don't believe Velvet's death to have been a targeted attack, they are urging members of the public to report anything suspicious in a bid to prevent similar fatalities from taking place.
Caitlin continued: “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.
“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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