A WORCESTER family is devastated after their two cats died of suspected anti-freeze poisoning within hours of each other.

Stacey Fisk rushed 18-year-old Pusscat to the vets after he became dazed, lost his appetite and narrowly escaped being run over as he staggered in the street.

But within 12 hours of Pusscat being put to sleep, Stacey's stepmother's cat, Shorty, had also died after displaying similar symptoms.

Pusscat was put down at Ambleside Veterinary Clinic Tolladine Road, Worcester, on Tuesday, April 10, because his kidneys were failing.

In another distressing twist, an X-ray revealed he had also been shot with a ballbearing gun.

Miss Fisk returned from the vet to find her stepmother Natasha Gillett's 10-year-old cat Shorty was also seriously ill.

Miss Fisk, of Turners Close, Blackpole, said: "As soon as we opened the door, Shorty fell over and couldn't walk. He was sent home after the vet said he had arthritis, but I wasn't convinced. He was drinking a lot of water and kept going limp. We went back to the vet and said, He's not right, please do something'.

"We were told all the pointers were towards anti-freeze poisoning but we're still not sure. We have been around all the families with cats in the area and have urged them to take them to the vet if there are any symptoms."

Shorty's owner Natasha Gillett, aged 36, of Saddlers Walk, Blackpole, is unhappy the vet sent Shorty home 30 minutes after Pusscat had been put down, even though he was showing similar symptoms.

On his second visit to the vet, Shorty was put to sleep.

Miss Gillett said: "Shorty was my life. When I first got him seven years ago I was suffering from depression and he gave me something to focus on. He should have been tested for something else. It has crossed our minds that someone may have done this deliberately."

A spokesman for Ambleside Vets said post-mortem tests were not carried out on either cat so it was impossible to confirm poisoning.

She added: "Although kidney failure is a common problem in elderly cats, anti-freeze poisoning should always be considered in cats with sudden onset renal signs.

"Unless cats are witnessed ingesting anti-freeze the outcome is generally fatal as once clinical signs develop the damage is irreversible.

"Despite treatment for renal failure Pusscat didn't respond and was put to sleep.

"Although old-age kidney deterioration in the case of Pusscat and a severe unrelated kidney infection in the case of Shorty are more likely causes of death, poisoning cannot be ruled out. We offer our deepest sympathies to both owners."

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