Cat owners in Calverton are keeping their kittens close after a spate of poisonings.
Residents said more than 20 cats have been fed anti-freeze in the Nottinghamshire village, leading to a slow and painful death for the beloved pets.
Both the RSPCA and the police are involved in tracking down the cat killer.
But the victims' owners have also begun their own campaign to highlight the horrific goings on in the village.
Nick Lawlor, of Labray Road, held his cat Piper in his arms as she died.
"She had been missing for a couple of days but we thought nothing of it," he said. "That's what cats do; they disappear for a few days and come back when they are hungry, wrapping themselves round your legs.
"But this time it was different. She didn't even come in the house, just laid in the garden.
"When I picked her up, the bottom half of her body was paralysed, her eyes were rolling around in her head and she was fitting.
"We didn't even have time to get her to the vet before she passed away."
The 43-year-old's neighbour said they heard of more cat deaths like this in Calverton and when Mr Lawlor went online, he discovered he wasn't the only one.
"So many people have been affected," he said. "I looked up the symptoms of antifreeze being fed to cats and there was no mistaking this was how Piper died."
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed there had been six reported incidents, adding: "Officers in the area are helping with the investigation."
But the case is being led by the RSPCA.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA has been made aware of a number of suspicious cat deaths in the area, and our inspector is working with the police to investigate this.
"We have attended the area with the police and we just want to warn people in the area and urge cat owners to be vigilant - this could have been accidental, but we want to prevent further incidents in the future."
The charity said if a cat ingests even a small amount of poison, it can lead to kidney failure and death.
People convicted of deliberately poisoning an animal could be subject to a £20,000 fine and/or six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act.
If an owner is concerned their pet may have been poisoned, they should contact a vet as soon as possible.
If anyone has any information about these incidents, they are asked to contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 1234 999. Calls will be treated in confidence.
Has your cat been poisoned? Email jennifer.scott@nottinghampost.com
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