Animal lovers are searching for the owner of a cat which was picked up and thrown into the path of an oncoming car.

The female cat was then kicked by the same man as a passer-by tried to intervene during the incident in Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, on Tuesday.

A witness, who asked to be identified as Jenna, 29, said the culprit told her it was because he did not like cats.

Jenna, who works in Forest Road, Walthamstow, was leaving Homebase when it happened.

The man is described as black with dreadlocks down to his waist, aged between 35 and 40 and around 5ft 11ins with an eyebrow piercing.

She said: “I noticed a little cat around his feet which he was trying to shoo away.

“I was not really paying too much attention but I thought that the poor little thing was only looking for fuss – she looked really skinny too so might have been hungry.

"Before I knew it, I looked again and he had the cat in his arms and just literally threw it into Fulbourne Road.

“The road was quite busy and she just went flying out and car looked like it hit her.

"She bolted towards some parked cars. I got out of my car without even thinking and started shouting at this man how disgusting he was to do such an awful thing – he really did not care.

“He was swearing and saying all sorts as I had called him a few horrible names. He started going on about how he didn’t like cats and they shouldn’t be coming near him.

“He then proceeded to kick the cat as she came near him again”

The witness then spent an hour trying to find the animal before finding it in Brookscroft Road.

Vets assessed the cat, which has been named ‘Pudding’.

It suffered a broken tail bone.

Anyone with any information should contact police.