It has now been widely reported that there has been an alarming number of linked animal killings across the Greater London area and the South East, with cases also confirmed in other parts of the UK over the past few years. The case has been attracting more media attention in recent times, however these killings have been occurring for several years.

 

Although primarily cats - other animals including foxes, wildlife and domestic rabbits have also been victims.

 

Thought to have started in the Croydon area several years ago, hence the "Croydon Cat Killer" tag given by the media,  the killings appear to have become more frequent and have occurred across a much wider area in the past couple of years.

 

In early 2016 the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Takahe, the investigation ran out of Croydon and worked alongside animal charity the RSPCA and SNARL (South Norwood Animal Rescue & Liberty) and in January 2018 SNARL revealed that over 500 cases were under investigation.

​

Post-moretm results indicated cases outside of Greater London in Manchester, Birmingham, Northamptonshire and St Albans are linked and are being investigated by Operation Takahe. There have also been cases in Sheffield, Margate, Nottingham, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey,  Berkshire, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Hampshire all being linked to the investigation.

​

Most victims have either had their head or tail removed cleanly with a sharp bladed implement, in some cases both. Some victims have also had other limbs and internal organs removed or have been cut in half.

​

In September 2018 the Met closed their investigation, concluding that the killings were a result of road traffic accidents with fox predication, although these conclusions were widely denounced and contradicted by veterinary practitioners who examined the victims and by SNARL.

​

Following the closure of Operation Takahe, SNARL launched their own investigation into the UK Cat Killer and are now working with a team of organisations to carry on the search for the perpetrator(s).

​

SNARL are asking anyone who finds a mutilated animals body or animal body parts, anyone who see's a person(s) acting strangely around animals, specifically cats, or anyone who has relevant information to call them on 07961 030064 or 07957 830490.

​

If you see anyone harming an animal, contact police immediately, followed by SNARL and the RSPCA.

                                         

If you are a cat owner and live in the Greater London and South East of England area and you leave your cat out at night, your cat is at high risk. It is advised to be vigilant and to keep your cats indoors, only letting them out under supervision and routinely keeping them inside at night. If you don't live in Greater London or the South East, your cat is still at risk and the same advice applies.

 

@ProtectCatsLDN was set up to use the power of social media to raise awareness about this killer(s),  to try to get as much accurate and up to date information out there as possible and to support those working hard to investigate this case. Please note it is not run by any of the investigating team and does not have access to sensitive case information. Also note that not all information involving the investigation can or will be made public for operational or privacy reasons - this is a policy of both investigators and @ProtectCatsLDN.

​

You can find out more information and background to this case by visiting SNARL’s Facebook page or their website snarl.org.uk. You can also follow @ProtectCatsLDN & @SNARLLondon on Twitter for regular updates.