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- The Animal Welfare Society and the police are trying to track down an alleged "serial cat killer" in Manenberg, Cape Town.
- Up to 30 cats were found dead and disembowelled in recent weeks.
- The identity of the cat killer remains unknown, and residents have been urged to come forward with any information.
Police and the Animal Welfare Society are working together to track down a "serial cat killer" in what they've labelled a "perplexing" case. About 30 dead and maimed cats have been found in Manenberg, Cape Town, in recent weeks, leaving residents fearing the worst.
PICS | 'Cult killings' fears as police hunt for Cape Town's 'serial cat killer'
When resident Abdul Karriem Adams found a dead cat in his yard on 15 July, he took to social media to find answers. Its abdomen had been cut open and intestines spilled out.
"After a while, I found out that there [have] already been... about six or seven cats before that have been slaughtered and thrown into our neighbour's yard. It's only because now I've made it public that people have come out," he told News24.
"We found two cats in front of the church, in front of my neighbour's [house], in my yard, in front of the school…and opposite the police station," he said.
Allan Perrins, spokesperson of the Animal Welfare Society (AWS), said about 30 dead cats have been found. He added that graphic images of cat carcasses were still being sent in as they were being discovered.
He told News24:
Perrins said some of the carcasses have been sent off to the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, where it will be examined at a specialist veterinary pathology section.
"They're going to conduct an in-depth autopsy on the cats' bodies, and that will hopefully steer the investigation in a certain direction. They would be able to, for example, see if there are bite wounds and whether those bite wounds were sustained ante- or post-mortem, whether or not there were stab wounds or whatever the case may be," he said.
No firm distinction has been made whether an animal or person is responsible for the cat killings, but they are exploring all options, he said.
"As long as we keep up the momentum, there is bound to be a breakthrough," Perrins said.
Una Bartlett, a resident whose cat, Percy, was killed, said she believed the perpetrator was striking during curfew when residents were inside and off the streets.
"I want them to catch the people that do this because for me, if they do that to a cat what could they do to a child. I'm scared for the children in our area," she said.
Residents have been urged to come forward with any information by calling the AWS on 021 692 2626 or 082 601 1761.
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