A beloved cat was discovered distressed and disorientated before having to be put down with suspected antifreeze poisoning.

Poorly black-and-white moggie Star was spotted crashing into bins by concerned neighbours close to his home off Love Lane in Faversham yesterday afternoon.

One resident carried the beleaguered feline back to his house, before owner Tammy Johnson rushed him to Toachim House Veterinary Surgery in Shunters Close.

But after convulsing on the journey to the site, Star, 18, was adjudged to be unlikely to survive by medics because of his age.

“The vet said his system was shutting down and that there was nothing that could be done, so I asked him to put Star out of his misery,” Ms Johnson recalled.

“Having seen the state he was in and having got the confirmation from the vet, I just wanted him to stop suffering. The cat was in absolute agony.

“He was quite a character, and is so missed. He had been known to jokingly chase the postman, and jump out on him from a hedge in front of my house.”

Star had been outside for about a couple of hours, before Ms Johnson received the knock on her door from her neighbour, who said: “I think he’s ill.”

The 55-year-old says veterinary surgeons immediately suspected he had ingested antifreeze, after initial tests.

Ms Johnson is hoping to raise awareness of the dangers accidental spillages of the fluid, which is used in cars to help regulate engine temperatures, can cause to pets.

“I’m upset, angry and heartbroken – I’d had him 18 years since he was a tiny kitten,” she added.

“There’s obviously somebody out there who had done this by accident.

"Having seen the state he was in and having got the confirmation from the vet, I just wanted him to stop suffering..."

“They’ve probably spilled the antifreeze somewhere and haven’t bothered to clear it up.

“People just don’t seem to see the dangers of this towards animals. There needs to be more awareness.”

Advice published by the RSPCA suggests motorists should regularly check their vehicles to ensure they are not leaking water coolant.

The charity says such accidental poisonings “happen every year, leading to pet death”.

Signs that a cat has drunk antifreeze can include vomiting, a sleepy or depressed demeanour, a drunk-like and uncoordinated state, seizures and difficulty breathing.

The RSPCA says the symptoms can start to become apparent 30 minutes after ingestion, with felines developing kidney failure after up to three days.

It advises owners to contact vets immediately if they suspect poisoning.