A cat owner in Gloucester is seeking answers following the tragic death of her two beloved pets, believed to have been poisoned by antifreeze.
Natalie Gribble, from Tuffley, had to make the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize her cat Lola on July 31 after the animal suffered kidney failure due to suspected antifreeze poisoning. Just two weeks later, on August 14, her second cat, Travis, faced a similar fate.
These incidents come on the heels of reports that dogs in the Cleevelands Estate area of Bishops Cleeve have also fallen ill, raising concerns about potential deliberate poisonings. Gloucestershire Police have urged anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue.
Mysterious Kidney Failure
Ms. Gribble recounted that Lola, usually prompt for dinner, returned home late one evening acting strangely and refused to eat. Concerned, she took Lola to the vet, who initially suspected a leg injury. However, despite administering painkillers and recommending rest, Lola’s condition worsened.
On the night of July 31, Lola’s health rapidly declined. Blood tests revealed that she was in end-stage kidney failure, with urine analysis confirming the presence of crystals indicative of antifreeze poisoning.
Heartbreak and Concerns
“The vet told me the only things that could cause that level of damage were lilies or antifreeze,” Ms. Gribble explained, adding that it would require an “enormous amount” of flowers to cause such harm.
“It was devastating. We had to decide to put her to sleep because she wouldn’t have made it through the night,” she said.
Ms. Gribble’s heartbreak was compounded just weeks later when Travis, her four-year-old cat, became lethargic, refused to eat, and started drinking excessively. Vets determined that Travis, too, was suffering from kidney failure, leading to the difficult decision to euthanize him on August 14.
In the wake of these losses, Ms. Gribble is keeping her remaining three cats indoors while exploring other safety measures. She suspects the poisonings may have been deliberate, especially given the short time between incidents.
“I’m really struggling to get my head around it,” Ms. Gribble said. “Not only were they amazing cats, they were our family. I understand people not liking cats, but to hate them so much that you want to cause actual harm is beyond comprehension.”
Ongoing Investigation
Gloucestershire Police confirmed they are investigating the incidents. A spokesperson stated, “We received a report that two cats had to be put down after becoming ill in the Tuffley area of Gloucester.”
The report, made by a resident of Sapphire Close, detailed that the cats were taken to the vet and subsequently euthanized due to suspected poisoning. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them via an online form, quoting incident 74 of August 15, as inquiries continue.
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