Two cats from West Lothian have died within the past week, both involved in incidents just metres from each other on Philip Avenue.
One of the deceased pets, Frankie, was shaking and unable to raise his head before he was put to sleep by a vet. On inspection, it was found that Frankie had suffered kidney and brain damage before his death - two classic symptoms of antifreeze poisoning.
The six-year-old cat had been missing for two days before he was spotted by neighbours and returned to his owners, and the Scottish SPCA has now urged cat owners to store the product in a secure place.
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The Scottish SPCA have also asked locals to report anything suspicious. SSPCA inspector Fiona Thorburn said: “We were saddened to hear of the circumstances of these cats deaths, and our thoughts are with their owners.
“Frankie was just six years old, he disappeared for two days until his owners spotted him in someone's garden on their way to the supermarket. Frankie couldn’t get up at all or raise his head, his head wouldn’t stop shaking and he was not responsive to his owners.
“He was rushed to the vets where it was found he had kidney and brain damage, which are classic symptoms of antifreeze poisoning. He would not have recovered and Frankie sadly had to put to sleep on veterinary advice.
“Antifreeze is highly poisonous to cats and causes a very slow, painful death. It could be that these cats are accessing a garage or area where antifreeze is not 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. There are strict guidelines for use and anyone who uses this substance to cause deliberate harm is committing an offence.
“We’d ask the public to report anything that may seem suspicious. We’d ask local cat owners to be vigilant and to seek urgent veterinary treatment if their cat appears unwell.
“If anyone has any information about this incident, or any toxic substances being deliberately used against animals, then we would urge them to contact our confidential animal helpline on 0300 999 999.”
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