Croydon Cat Ripper: Ginger feline in Thorton Heath becomes latest victim of twisted pet killer

A twisted cat killer who is believed to have carried out dozens of murderous attacks with a razor on pets in the Croydon area has struck again, animal rights activists claimed.

Dubbed the 'Croydon Cat Ripper' the individual or a series of copy cats have taken to slashing domestic pets in and around south London. In a string of similarly motivated attacks the killer has removed the animals' heads and tails, appearing to keep the body parts as trophies.

The South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty group (SNARL) announced the killing on its Facebook page after the death was reported to police in Thorton Heath by a bus driver on Saturday afternoon.

"The cat had been dead in the garden for two days before being reported to the police by local bus drivers, who we would like to thank as they called the police.

"We'd also like to thank the two PCSOs who secured the scene, shielded the cat's body from view, giving him some dignity," the group said in a statement.

SNARL claimed the cat slasher is responsible for the deaths of more than 50 cats and other animals, moving far beyond Croydon in search of prey.

"As most people are now aware, there have been upwards of 50 cats, rabbits and foxes found dead, apparently murdered, across London over the past couple of years," the group said in a statement in February.

It lists a series of incidents within the M25 which have included the removal of organs, bones and other body parts, dating back to March 2015.

The relative impunity with which the cat killer appears to have operated, has led to calls from celebrities for the murderer to be caught.

Martin Clunes has written to Scotland Yard urging officers do more to catch the so-called Cat Ripper of Croydon. The TV star said at least 35 cats are thought to have been mutilated in the south London borough, calling it the "stuff of nightmares". X Factor presenters Caroline Flack and Dermot O'Leary have also raised concerns.

Dr Adam Lynes, a lecturer in criminology at Birmingham City University, told the Sun: "To me, this looks like the work of a single disturbed individual. The fact that several bodies were found with heads and tails removed suggests that it's the same person behind the attacks.

He went on to warn that the cat killer could make the leap to attacking humans, if the killing spree continued unchecked.