Police Investigate Serial Cat Killings After Stabbing Deaths Of 7 Pets

Police in the U.K. are investigating the stabbings of several cats they believe may have been perpetrated by the same person.

Brighton police said they are taking reports of at least seven cats being killed "very seriously" and two officers have been assigned to investigate the cat stabbings, according to The Guardian. At least two of the pets were stabbed to death and three felines died from their injuries.

"Sussex police have received further reports of injured or deceased cats following the suspected stabbing of a pet in Ditchling Rise, Brighton, on Monday. 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."

Police Constable Andy Chapman urged anyone in the public to come forward with information regarding the cat killings.

"We are taking these incidents very seriously and we have already spoken at the North Laine local action team meeting. 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...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 to report online or call 101 quoting Operation Diverge."

In September, the Metropolitan police ended a three-year investigation into several cat deaths attributed to the "Croydon cat killer" after it was determined foxes were likely behind the series of mutilations.

"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. Although it's horrible, it is not linked to the wider Croydon cat killer," said Tony Jenkins of South Norwood Animal Rescue Liberty (SNARL), in an interview with The Guardian.

"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."