A WARNING has been issued about the notorious M25 Cat Killer after a cat was found slaughtered in a park.

The cat was found mutilated last weekend in Victoria Park Recreation Ground, Portslade, and is being treated as the latest in a string of pet slayings by the killer.

The M25 cat killer is said to have killed hundreds of cats and is known to decapitate the heads, tails and paws of his victims.

A team set up to track the killer, called SNARL, have been posting warning leaflets in a mile radius around the killing in Portslade after a vet confirmed the cat’s death was human related.

Boudicca Rising is co-founder of the team that has been tracking the movements of the killer since October 2015.

She said: “The M25 cat killer likes the coast in the summer.

“We do not verify these killings lightly as a false alarm would interfere with our tracking of the killer.

“The warning leaflets are delivered for two reasons.

“Firstly, the killer is known to drop back the cat’s head or tails a while after the killing, so we need people in the area to be aware of this.

“Secondly we need to warn people in the community.”

The group assess each situation according to a set of criteria to determine whether the incidents are linked to their investigations, ruling out accidents and building the case through hallmarks associated with the killer.

In June The Argus reported that the group believed the killer had targeted three animals in the Sussex area this year.

These included a fox in Brighton, a cat in Uckfield, and a rabbit in Saltdean.

The family who owned the rabbit, which was found mutilated outside of its previously locked cage, spoke to The Argus.

They said: “We were horrified and heartbroken when we found out what happened to our rabbit.

“We can’t understand how anyone can be so barbaric”

After the latest attack, the volunteers who run SNARL have issued a fresh warning.

Boudicca said: “My advice would be to keep your pets indoors at night.

“If you’ve got Guinea pigs or rabbits outside in a hutch – bring them inside.

“Also think about getting CCTV.”

In the last three years, there are believed to have been 12 killings related to the M25 cat killer.

An police investigation called "Operation Takahe" is currently underway to find the killer.