A woman has said she is terrified her cats may be killed after a spate of pet poisonings in a Faversham estate.

A poor cat was found dead and a dog was left fighting for its life after two food contaminations in Brook Road this week.

It is alleged another cat has also died as a result of anti-freeze being left in packages of meat in the road.

Doreen Belsey, 62, fears her two moggies Jiffy and Petal will be next.

As Jiffy spends so much time outdoors, Ms Belsey has taken him to a friend's house on the other side of town and Petal is being kept inside.

The carer said: "I found the cat from over the road. Thomas was stiff as a board and his face was all swollen.

"I’ve heard they are lacing kebab meat with poison and leaving it on the pavement.

"I love cats and I love animals. I used to feed Thomas all the time and it has broken my heart to see him go.

"It’s scary as my cats or other people’s pets could be next. I don’t know why people would do this. They obviously hate animals.

"I don't understand how people could do such a thing. It’s wicked" - Emma Young

"I am keeping my cats in at the moment but they’re roamers, they want to be outside and you can’t really keep them in. I don’t know what to do. It’s got to be stopped."

Emma Young's seven-year-old daughter Katelyn Young owned Thomas and was devastated to find out he had died.

Mrs Young said: "She was really upset and I hope we can get her another one soon.

"But it is scary it may happen again. I don’t understand how people could do such a thing. It’s wicked."

Another resident of Brook Road, who did not want to be named, faced £900 veterinary bills after his dog, a Tibetan terrier, was poisoned and needed an operation.

He said: "The dog ate something when we were out on a walk. When we got home, the dog started to be very, very sick.

"I had to call out the vets and they took him in straight away. He had to have a major operation after they discovered he had toxic ingestion.

"I had to pay out £900 and I am in no position to do that. But I couldn’t lose him. Pets are like family members. I was so upset."

Police spokesman Carly Wymark said: "Police were called at 7.04pm on January 7 to a report that a cat had been found dead in Brook Road. There is currently no evidence to suggest the cat was deliberately killed."

Anyone with information on further incidents is encouraged to contact police by calling 101.