A thug who killed a pet cat is being hunted by police.

The man on a bike lured Milo, a four-year-old white and ginger moggy, to him before beating it to death in front of horrified neighbours near Sittingbourne before pedalling off.

Milo’s shocked owner Jasmine Ryan said her cat was across the road from her home near the old Kemsley Arms in Ridham Avenue, Kemsley, finishing off food when the man approached and attacked the cat.

She said: “The man went towards him and called him over before beating him to death.

“He was just a gentle, loving and super friendly cat. He would have thought the man wanted to pet him.

“I just don’t understand why anyone would hurt such a sweet defenceless animal.”

She said the man was caught by residents but jumped on his bike and rode off.

She added: “Milo was so gentle and trusting. Everyone loved him for his loving and gentle nature.”

Jasmine said police were reviewing CCTV footage and compared the horror attack to a Netflix documentary about Canadian murderer Luka Magnotta who recorded himself killing cats and other animals before killing Chinese student Jun Lin in 2012.

Jasmine warned: “Milo’s attacker will keep doing this until he gets caught. He clearly gets a buzz out of it.”

Even if he is caught, the maximum sentence he can expect is six months in jail.

Animal charity the RSPCA is backing the Animal Welfare Sentencing Bill which gets its second reading in Parliament this Friday.

"It’s a sad reality that in England you could face a longer prison sentence for fly-tipping than for beating a dog to death or dumping a dying pony in a field.”

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “This Bill is long overdue. Animals in this country deserve better.

"In the three years since the Bill was first announced, animal abusers have been tried by the courts and sentenced to penalties that do not reflect the severity of their crimes.

"It is time the maximum sentence is increased to five years.

"It’s a sad reality that in England you could face a longer prison sentence for fly-tipping than for beating a dog to death or dumping a dying pony in a field.”

Police confirmed they received a report of a dead cat in Menin Road, Sittingbourne, on October 14 October at 8.35am.

A spokesman said: "Officers are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the death. At present no suspects have been identified."

Anyone with information should call police on 01795 419119 quoting crime reference 46/184024/20.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne