Police investigate after cat’s tail found in garden

Police are investigating after a Melksham resident found what is believed to be her missing cat’s severed tail in her garden.

Jenny Phelps, of Churchill Avenue in Forest, discovered what she believes to be her cat Walty’s tail in her garden on 9th June. The cat has not been seen since and Jenny believes the tail may have been deliberately cut off.

“It was about 7am in the morning. We found his tail but cannot find the cat anywhere,” said Jenny. “I have been up and down the road, people have been out looking for him, but we just don’t know what has happened to him.”

Jenny said she reported the incident to the police and had heard of a similar incident involving another cat in the area.

The incident has been particularly upsetting for Jenny and her family, including her eight-year-old son.

“It’s disgusting and if someone is doing this, they need to be stopped,” she said.

With Walty going deaf, Jenny said she is concerned someone may have approached him without him being aware.

“There were no signs of blood anywhere in the garden,” she said. “We were advised to keep the tail in the freezer because it is evidence.

“Walty is getting quite old now and would usually be lying under our car, or he sleeps outside the front of the house sometimes, but always comes back in when it is raining.”

After discovering the tail, Jenny also noticed a blob of yellow paint on her front door that she had not seen before.

“I was just checking to see if I had any post and I saw the paint and thought it was a bit unusual,” she said. “I have washed it off now, but I am concerned that someone has marked our house.

“I don’t really know what to feel because we just don’t know what has happened to him. If somebody is doing this to cats, then it needs to be stopped.”

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said, “We have received a report of a cat’s tail potentially being deliberately removed and left outside the owner’s property in Melksham.

“We are still in the early stages of our enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact us on 101 quoting reference 54260068803.”