Horrified pet owner finds cat hanged by burglars

A MAN returned home to find his cat had been hanged and his flat ransacked by callous thugs.

The cruel burglars, who stole mobile phones and video games, strung the cat up by the tail and left it to be found by its horrified owner.

David Christie, in his 20s, who lives in Dalum Court, Loanhead, returned to his flat on Tuesday evening, where he found his beloved pet dead.

It is unclear if the cat was killed and then hanged or it was alive when it was suspended by its tail.

The incident happened between Monday night at 9.50pm and 5.15pm on Tuesday, meaning the feline could have been hanging for up to 19 hours.

Hundreds of pounds worth of items were stolen during the raid.

It is not known whether the attack was targeted or random.

The Scottish SPCA branded the attack as “sickening” and appealed to catch the culprits.

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Hanging an animal is sickeningly cruel and this cat would have been caused a great deal of terror, pain and suffering. We would urge anyone with information to contact Lothian and Borders Police as soon as possible.”

A police spokesman said: “Lothian and Borders Police are investigating following a housebreaking and theft from a property in Dalum Court, Loanhead. A number of items including a games console, computer games and mobile phones were stolen.

“Alongside the housebreaking, officers are also looking at the death of a cat that was found dead within the address during the break-in.”

In 2010, it was feared that a cat poisoner was on the loose after five cats in the same street as the housebreaking died from swallowing anti-freeze. The Scottish SPCA was called in to investigate by owner Stuart Keith, who said he had lost three cats in similar circumstances.