People living near Cannock town centre have been warned to keep an eye on their pets after a woman’s two cats died in agony from instant kidney failure from poisoning and another went missing.

Grieving Linda Tams, of Mosswood Street in Cannock, said vets who tried to save 10-year-old Bruno and two-year-old Babby said their kidney failure was probably caused by eating rat poison or weed killer.

Mrs Tams said someone may be putting such a substance down without realising the danger to animals and urged pet owners to be vigilant.

She said: “They died on consecutive Saturdays over the last few weeks. They had swallowed something very toxic.

“One of them had ulcers on its mouth so bad that it couldn’t close it.

“I have two other cats that go out plus one house cat. I am having to keep the windows shut and block the cat flap. They are going mad but I just can’t risk it.

“I am absolutely devastated and lost over this. To lose three cats in such a short space of time and to see how two of them suffered is unbearable.”

RSPCA spokeswoman Judith Haw said: “We are looking into this and want to make people aware this could be a problem in the area.”