Concerns are growing after a cat was poisoned with antifreeze, and bread was found laced with rat killer on a popular seafront.

The separate incidents have left Herne Bay residents worried a serial pet poisoner is operating in the area, deliberately harming animals.

Tasha Ifill, 32, is facing a vet bill of more than £1,000 after her three-year-old cat Minnie became gravely ill from ingesting antifreeze thought to have been laid down intentionally.

"It was Sunday night and I had just got home from my late shift," said the mum-of-three, who works at a care home. "I let her out to do her business, then she was sick in the hallway.

"I just assumed she'd eaten too fast, so I got her some water and didn't think anything of it until the morning, when she was really panting and crying.

"I got really worried because she looked really dazed and couldn't move properly."

Minnie started fitting and was rushed to Broadway Vets.

"They did blood tests and said she had been poisoned with antifreeze, which had gone right through to her kidneys," said Tasha.

"It really was so scary. We were told to prepare for the worst and say goodbye to her. She's such a friendly cat - it was so heartbreaking when the vets said we might have to put her down.

"But Minnie is amazing and is strong and fought for her life."

Minnie spent six days at the vets, where Tasha says her "beloved baby" received excellent care, as the poison was flushed from her body.

But with no pet insurance, her life-saving treatment cost £1,060. Minnie is now on medication and a special diet, while her kidneys "will never be the same again".

"It was awful just seeing her," said Tasha, of King's Road. "It makes me cry just thinking about it. It hurt the kids feelings as well - they were in a state. We all were.

"I posted about it on Facebook, and there have been loads of comments saying some people put antifreeze out on purpose, to kill cats and foxes in their gardens. It's horrible. And there's so many cats around this area, it's unbelievable."

Two days after Minnie fell ill, fellow Herne Bay resident Tasha Marie Dowle was walking on the seafront near the bandstand when she came across a piece of bread, coated in a blue substance that appears to be rat poison.

It is thought the bait was deliberately laid down to entice seagulls and other birds - sparking concerns that what happened to Minnie was not an isolated incident.

"It's just not fair," said Tasha Ifill. "Children could pick it up - my son picks up everything. If my dog was off the lead, he'd definitely eat it.

"Someone's getting their kicks out of killing animals. I just hope this person gets caught."

An RSPCA spokesman said the charity gets hundreds of calls every year, about animals that are believed to have been either accidentally or deliberately poisoned.

Signs of poisoning can vary depending on what the animal has eaten but may include vomiting, seizures, appearing drunk or sleepy, difficulty breathing, and dehydration.

The spokesman said: “If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned you must take it to a vet immediately. If possible and safe to do so, you should take a sample of what they have eaten or drunk, or the container.”

For information on how to detect poisoning, visit the RSPCA website.

Any incidents involving suspected poisoning of wildlife or companion animals can also be reported to the government’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay