Residents of Alder View Estate Suspect Poisoning After Multiple Cat Deaths

Concerns have arisen among residents of a housing estate in Harwell, Oxfordshire, where multiple cats have died after becoming ill over the past month, leading to suspicions of poisoning. Tanya Clifton, a resident of the Alder View estate, has experienced the loss of her cats, Gingie and Kitty, and suspects that someone might be “maliciously” attempting to harm the animals. She reported that a total of eight cats have perished on the estate, with several others also falling ill. Larkmead Vets in Didcot, the veterinary practice where Ms. Clifton’s cats received care, chose not to provide a comment. Both Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the RSPCA have confirmed they are investigating the situation. Ms. Clifton, who previously owned 12 cats, stated that on 8 November, Gingie returned home “really sick,” prompting her to take him to the veterinary clinic. She recounted, “At the same time, there was a lady, Jane, who had brought another cat in, displaying the same symptoms.” According to Ms. Clifton, “The vet said that both had been poisoned and unfortunately by the morning, both cats had passed away.” Jane Stoackley, Ms. Clifton’s neighbor, clarified that the cat she brought to the vet was not her own, but she was aware of another cat in the area that had recently died. Additionally, Ms. Clifton informed BBC Radio Oxford that “a few other cats around the area had been rushed in and died,” and two more were discovered deceased in bushes. Ms. Clifton expressed her belief that someone might be “maliciously trying to hurt cats.” She further stated, “We’ve had so much rain and snow and you’d think if it was something accidental, it would have been washed away by now.” She added, “Speaking to the vets, with the numbers that we’ve got now of poorly or passed away cats around here, they said that they suspect foul play could be involved.” Ms. Clifton concluded, “It’s either malicious or someone’s using something that they are completely unaware is poisonous to wildlife and cats.” Ms. Clifton characterized Gingie as “really playful and sweet” and Kitty, her second lost cat, as “very timid.” Another of her male cats, Bubbie, became ill on Friday and is currently undergoing treatment, showing signs of “slowly improving.” A fourth cat belonging to her is presently unaccounted for. Ms. Clifton reported that she has already incurred over £1,000 in veterinary expenses for the initial two cats and was compelled to cancel their pet insurance. She explained her decision by stating, “I felt their pet insurance wasn’t as important as feeding the kids.” She also mentioned having to inform her children that “Christmas might not be the same this year” due to the depletion of all family savings. TVP confirmed receiving reports of “anti-social behaviour on White Hart Way” around 14:54 GMT on 15 November. A statement from the police indicated, “Officers are investigating the incident.” An RSPCA spokesperson commented, “Thankfully, deliberate poisoning of animals is rare.” The spokesperson added, “Our hearts go out to anyone who suspects their pet has been poisoned,” and concluded, “We are aware of concerns in this area and we are looking into this further.” Information from BBC Oxfordshire is available on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details on their external linking policy are accessible.