A couple in Hull fear their eight-year-old tabby cat was killed intentionally after his severed tail was posted through their letterbox. The cat, named Max, vanished from his home on Appleton Road last Monday, and his distinctive white-tipped tail was found pushed through the couple's letterbox five days later.
Discovery of the tail
Owners Louise, 45, and Lisa, 47, found the tail on Saturday morning when Lisa went to collect their mail from the shared post area at their block of flats. Louise described hearing Lisa screaming and crying, and initially thought she had found Max collapsed on the floor. Instead, she realised it was just his tail.
Louise said: 'We are devastated and heartbroken – who could do such a thing to an animal. He was murdered for no reason at all.' She added that it was unusual for Max to go missing, as he would only go as far as the front or back garden and was happy at home.
Police investigation
The couple reported the incident to Humberside Police, who were called at around 12.30pm on September 19. Max's tail has been sent to a specialist vet in Liverpool to look for DNA, which could potentially identify whoever handled it. Forensics have also checked the letterbox for other clues.
Louise said she has 'horrible images' that the tail was taken off while Max was alive. She described him as 'full of character' and a 'huge part of her family'. The couple's other cat, three-year-old Maple, has been sent to stay with a friend because they no longer feel safe keeping her at the flat.
Impact on wedding plans
The ordeal has also affected Louise and Lisa's wedding plans after nine years together. They are still going ahead with the ceremony but have cancelled the celebration they had planned afterwards. Louise said: 'It has put a massive shadow over it. We've told all of our guests that we aren't doing anything afterwards now; we're just going to the registry office and then for one drink.'
