CATS 'STABBED'

One of the pets - which was reportedly nabbed by the notorious Ballymoney cat-napper two years ago - had another of its nine lives chalked off after it was seriously injured at the beginning of last week followed by a similar incident involving another cat on Friday.

Denise Culbertson's beloved moggies Tigger and Tiddles suffered puncture wounds which Denise believes were inflicted by a local resident with a hatred of the animals.

Tigger was let out of Denise's Stuart Park property just after 7am on Monday of last week. When he returned home a short time later Denise discovered he had sustained what appeared to be a stab wound on his side.

She rushed Tigger to the vet who immediately inserted four drains and stitched up a gaping six inch gash.

The drains remained in place until Thursday.

Then on Friday evening Tiddles returned home with a two inch wound on her side and was also taken to the vet.

The veterinary treatment has already set the mum-of-two (pictured inset) back over 100.

Both animals are currently recovering at Denise's house.

The recent incidents have sparked fears a cat-napper may be operating again in Ballymoney.

Back in 2008 four of the defenceless animals were scooped up within a three week period from the Stuart Park area.

Three were never returned but Tigger was discovered at a dump on the outskirts of the town weeks later.

Then an anonymous complaint was made to the Housing Executive regarding the animals in an attempt to have them removed by the authorities.

When this didn't work four of the pets were seemingly poisoned prompting a police probe however no arrests were ever made.

Following a two year lull the feline lovers thought their animals were again safe to roam the estate however the recent development has prompted them to impose a 23 hour lockdown on their pets to keep them safe.

A distressed Denise - who has five cats - told the Times:

"I noticed the first injury on Monday.

"Then on Friday night Tiddles came in hurt, it was awful.

"I have been letting the cats out later in the evenings in recent weeks with the good weather.

"Tiddles' injuries were bad enough but Tigger's were much worse.

"When I saw him he was in bad shape and I think it was deliberate. From the cut I don't believe it came from below such as if Tigger walked over wire or something.

"It seems to me something was plunged down into him from above - and the same with Tiddles."

Denise - who has lived in Stuart Park for the past 11 years - appealed to whoever was behind the apparent attacks to leave the defenceless pets alone.

"We thought that after the bother before that was the end of it," she said.

"But since Monday we have only been letting the cats out for an hour a day which is cruel to them in that weather.

"I just want whoever is doing this to stop because it is so cruel.

"Cats don't do anyone any harm. Some people might see them as a nuisance but they are defenceless animals."

[email protected]