The discovery of a headless cat at a Golden Grove playground has prompted RSPCA South Australia to issue a warning to cat owners in the area to keep their animals contained to their properties.
The small black male cat, believed to be about 20 weeks old, was found last Friday morning by a couple walking their dog near a playground on Chatswood Grove in Golden Grove.
No microchip could be located on the body, so at this stage RSPCA is asking anyone who is missing a cat matching the description to contact them.
The couple reported the gruesome find to Golden Grove police, who have been liaising with RSPCA South Australia’s inspectorate.
The discovery comes on top of a second cat decapitation incident last week in which a Wynn Vale resident found a cat’s severed head in her backyard. That cat’s body has not been found.
The owner of the first cat, a long-haired ginger and white cat called Bear, posted a message on Facebook in the hope someone would return him.
She subsequently learnt about the possible fate of her cat after seeing a Facebook post from the woman who discovered the cat’s head, seeking help to locate the owner.
An RSPCA inspector was able to formally identify the cat from photos.
The owner has advised RSPCA that her cat did not usually wander far from his Para Hills home and had only been missing a few days.
RSPCA South Australia Chief Inspector Andrea Lewis said they did not have any strong leads to identify who was responsible for either killing.
“It could be the same person or persons responsible, or it could be two entirely separate cases, we just don’t know at this stage,” Ms Lewis said.
RSPCA wants all cat owners to contain their cats to their properties, both for their safety and the safety of wildlife. Ms Lewis urged cat owners living in the north-eastern suburbs to be particularly vigilant around the security and safety of their pets.
“These awful incidents are a reminder of how vulnerable our pets are if they’re allowed to wander and how important it is to ensure cats are microchipped by three months of age, which is now a legal requirement.
“We remind cat owners that, with the exception of registered cat breeders, another legal requirement is to have your cat desexed from six months of age.
“This law only applies to cats born after July 1 last year, but we encourage all cat owners to have their cats desexed.
“The aim is to reduce the numbers of unwanted litters being born, but the other positive consequence of a desexed cat is that he or she is less likely to wander.”
Anyone convicted of an aggravated animal cruelty offence faces a potential penalty of $50,000 or four years in prison.
Anyone with information in regards to either case is urged to contact RSPCA on: 1300 4 777 22.
