A cat which was found decapitated could be the latest victim of a serial killer.

The little pet was found in Leigh, Essex, on Monday night.

The owner, Claire Rennie, wrote on Facebook: "Just a warning to others as it's too late for our poor kitty.

"It's absolutely dreadful but it seems there is someone decapitating cats around the London Road and Dundonald Drive area of Leigh.

"At first we thought our kitten had been hit or injured and then got by foxes but our neighbour has just confirmed her head was missing when she found her and it was a clean cut with the collar laid next to the body and the head nowhere to be seen.

"She said it's not the first instance as a couple of her local friends have had the same thing happen.

"We will be reporting to the police but please try and keep your kitties inside and safe at night.

"This was the first night she hadn't come in when she called and now we know why."

This is just the latest suspected attack of the M25 Cat Killer, also known as the Croydon Cat Killer, who is now thought that have killed, dismembered and decapitated more than 400 cats across England.

The cat killer has previously struck in Watford, Chingford and Walthamstow.

Two-year-old Chewy's dismembered body was found in Oxhey Woods in January 2017.

They are also believed to have killed two rabbits in the area - including Chip, in his hutch in Watford.

In November, the body of a black and white kitten, around four months old, was found by a teenage girl in Normanshire Drive, in Chingford, at 4.30pm on Wednesday (November 16). The animal was beheaded with a “clean cut”, a trademark of the serial killer linked to almost 170 slaughtered cats.

In September 2017, a 17-year-old cat was found beheaded in its owner’s garden in Walthamstow on September 5.

The Met launched an investigation in December 2015 under the name Operation Takahe led by Det Sgt Andy Collin after the animal charity South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (Snarl) raised concerns about cats found dead and missing their heads and tails.

The Met have been contacted for comment.

Anyone with information should call the Metropolitan Police on 101, the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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