A devastated cat owner has spoken of her shock after her family pet was removed from the street by animal charity officers and put down within hours.
The grey tabby, who was almost 19 years old, was put down within just four hours after she was taken from the street where they live in Sycamore Road, off Sweet Briar Road, Norwich.
They only discovered the elderly cat's fate when they noticed a piece of paper “shoddily” attached to a lamp post saying “animal found”. They rang the number on the sheet only to be told their cat had been put down.
Now, the family has issued a warning to other pet owners.
Ms Ingle, 43, said: “We had her ever since she was born; my daughter chose her from the litter when she was just one-year-old.
“She was living out her last few days in her home with her cat family and us. We knew that if she was in any discomfort or pain, then she would have to be put down, but that was our decision to make and that was taken away from us. I know some people say it's only a cat, but when you've had her for nearly 20 years, then it's different.”
Cleo was taken away, unbeknown to the family, by an RSPCA officer on November 10.
The family knew she only nipped out briefly when necessary but spent most of the time in the home. She was not wearing a collar, but had been microchipped but about 18 years ago. However, Ms Ingle fear the chip may not have been detected because it inserted so many years ago.
Sophie Wilkinson, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA, confirmed the cat had been taken by a collection officer after they received a report saying it looked like a stray, was very skinny and could not walk. Cleo was taken to All Creatures Healthcare, in Horsford, where the decision was made to put her down.
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED23%20Nov%202009%2016%3A49%3A04%3A427
