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Map of shaved cat attacks as incidents spread from Medway to Dover

A map of every location in which a cat has been shaved in Medway is being added to on a daily basis following a surge in reported attacks.

Medway-based charity Animals Lost and Found has been so disturbed by the deluge of incidents in the area it has created the map as a way to warn pet owners.

The animal welfare organisation says it is adding to the map every other day as people report attacks on their pets at an alarming rate.

They are keen to publicise the position of the assaults to give owners the chance to take every precaution to keep their fur babies safe.

Incidents have been reported across Kent , from Northfleet down to Dover, with the majority seem to be confined to Medway, and in particular Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester.

Charity spokesperson Natasha McPhee said: "In some areas on the map it is more dense than others. There are roads where two or three attacks have happened."

And since the first attack was reported just before Christmas, they are showing no sign of slowing down.

Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway
Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway

Most recently a woman from Hoo contacted the charity to say her cat is being attacked every time he goes out.

Natasha said: "The lady said she even follows it and it just goes and sits a few houses down the road.

"But it is obviously happening the times she is not able to track him."

And the woman told Natasha her cat is starting to get scared of her.

"It is obviously a human who is doing it to so she is getting frightened of people."

Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway
Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway

The charity is advising cat owners to be as vigilant as possible, even if it means purchasing security cameras or keeping their pets indoors.

Although she admits this is not possible for every cat, as some become deeply distressed at being trapped indoors.

She said:"If you have a feral cat it's not fair for them to be stuck inside. It can cause more stress. They can hold their urine in and it can lead to infections or they can get ill because they are not used to being inside all the time.

"If you can't then be mindful of when they go out and come home.

Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway
Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway
Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway
Cats are having their fur shaved in random attacks in Medway

"See if you can get some cheap CCTV set up around your home because without proper evidence of who is doing this then I fear it will keep happening and no one will be held accountable," she said.

Natasha said her cat was attacked years ago and even now his fur has not grown back the same.

"It's a bit curly where it was shaved. They are not meant to be shaved."

Attacks seem to have been increasing since Christmas when Victoria Griffiths, from Walderslade, was shocked to see her beloved tabby come back from his adventures with a large bald patch.

The 10-year-old moggy returned home with a huge, strangely-shaped patch of fur cut away, leaving his bare skin exposed.

"I was so angry that some nasty human had decided to shave my cat," she said. "It was very distressing."

Shaved cat - Victoria Griffiths's cat came home with parts of his fur shaved in Walderslade. (62157107)
Shaved cat - Victoria Griffiths's cat came home with parts of his fur shaved in Walderslade. (62157107)

While Kerry Ryan, 50, from Chatham, said her cat Dennis used to go out all the time but now she is too scared to let him out after he came home with an area around his back legs completely shaved.

"I am so angry and deeply shocked that people can do this kind of thing to a cat or any animal," she said.

Natasha urged people to report anyone acting suspiciously around animals to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

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