Cat stabbings investigation launched in Brighton by Sussex Police following seven attacks

Animal charity investigating 'Croydon cat killer' deaths say Brighton attacks seem unconnected

Sussex Police are investigating seven reports of attacks on cats (Getty/iStock)

Seven reports of serious injuries to cats which “may be linked” are being investigated following the suspected stabbing of a cat in Brighton, Sussex Police have said.

The incidents have all happened since mid-September in a small area of central Brighton, with three of the cats dying from their injuries.

Two of the attacks have been confirmed as “highly likely” to be stabbing injuries, including the latest in Ditchling Rise on Monday.

PC Andy Chapman, of Sussex Police, said: “We are taking these incidents very seriously and we have already spoken at the North Laine local action team meeting.

“In total, seven reports have been made since mid-September, of which two have been confirmed as highly likely to be stabbing injuries.

“We understand the impact and emotional distress caused to the owners of much-loved pets and we are determined to put an end to these attacks.

“However, we do need help from the public. I urge anyone with information or who believes that their pet has been the victim of a deliberate, malicious attack is asked to report online or call 101 quoting Operation Diverge.”

A Sussex Police spokesman added: “Two officers have now been allocated to investigate the reports and establish whether there may be links between those that have not been shown to be attacks by other animals or accidental injury.”

Seanin Mouland, who lives in Brighton, said her cat Samson looked like he had been attacked with a machete in an attack on 18 November.

Ms Mouland has raised more than £5,400 to cover some of Samson’s vet bills through an online fundraising page.

On the page, Ms Mouland wrote that Samson had suffered “serious internal damage” after the attack and “underwent two emergency surgeries”.

“Somebody with a knife went out of their way to try and kill our poor defenceless cat,” she added.

Sussex Police’s investigation into the recent attacks on cats in Brighton comes after the Metropolitan Police discontinued their three-year investigation into 400 reports of cat deaths attributed to the “Croydon cat killer“.

The force said the injuries inflicted on the cats in Croydon and the surrounding area were likely to have been caused by foxes, other wildlife or vehicle collisions.

Tony Jenkins, of the animal charity Snarl (South Norwood Animal Rescue Liberty), which is investigating the “Croydon cat killer” deaths, said the Brighton attacks seemed unconnected.

“We think it’s a separate perpetrator because there are stab wounds and the injuries are different; there are not decapitations as seen in the other cases,” he said.

“Although it’s horrible, it is not linked to the wider Croydon cat killer.”

Mr Jenkins said Snarl was continuing to investigate the cat deaths in Croydon as there was “clear evidence” of human involvement.

He added: “Without a shadow of doubt, there is a pattern of behaviour around the killings.

“Police have resource issues with funding cuts and couldn’t afford to investigate further and they took the easy route to blame foxes.

“There is clear evidence to suggest human interaction and we are continuing to investigate.”

Additional reporting by PA