CAT owners in Westbury have been warned to be on their guard after three cats died of suspected poisoning.

Sharon Burbidge's eight-year-old cat Tiddles disappeared from her home in Great Roc Road on April 12, and was taken to the vet by a neighbour who believed he had been hit by a car.

The cat did not recover, and was put to sleep, but on closer inspection by the vet, they concluded Tiddle's had been poisoned.

A week later, in nearby Gryphon Close, Shelley Suttle's cat Blackie was put down after he fell ill from suspected poisoning.

And another ginger cat in Gryphon Close had to be put down as a result of apparent poisoning.

Westbury RSPCA Inspector Kate Davis said: "It's a very worrying situation for pet owners in this neighbourhood. It appears that these pets have all been poisoned but we can't say whether it is a deliberate attempt to kill them or whether they have gained access to a toxic substance."

Mrs Burbidge is now worried her other cat, Sophie, could be poisoned too and she is afraid to let the pregnant pet outside.

She said: "I had Tiddles for eight years and it broke my heart to lose him, but I am now very wary of letting Sophie out as if something happened to her it might result in the kittens being without their mum."

Mrs Burbidge said she thought her neighbours might have laid down poison on purpose.

"We have fallen out with our neighbours in the past so this could be some sort of malice attack," she said.

Mrs Burbidge's eight-year-old son, Jordan, is missing the family pet. She said: "He is so young and although he is so upset, I can't explain to him what has happened because he just wouldn't understand."

The RSPCA is taking the suspected poisoning very seriously and say if people in that part of Westbury are worried about their pet's health they should take their cat to the vet immediately.

Inspector Davis said: "If poison is being deliberately laid to kill pets we need to track down the culprit.

"At this stage nothing is being ruled out and we would urge cat owners in the area to keep a close eye on their pets at this time and to report anything suspicious to us."

Mrs Burbidge said she and her neighbours had seen cats around the street foaming at the mouth, and the RSPCA are warning pet owners to be on the lookout for other symptoms of poisoning in their pet's behaviour, such as breathing difficulties or fitting.