ANOTHER cat has been killed in what campaigners fear is a deliberate stabbing.

South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (Snarl) said a cat was “mutilated” on Saturday night in the Portland Road area in Hove.

A spokesman for the charity, which was originally set up to track down the M25 Cat Killer, said: “Today (Sunday July 28) we were alerted to a mutilated cat found in a back garden this morning.

“A Snarl volunteer collected the cat and took her to a vets for examination.

“Although there was a noticeable amount of predation on the body, injuries were present which were confirmed as being inflicted by a sharp bladed instrument.

“We are therefore ruling this in as a possible UK Animal Killer victim.

“If anyone is missing a small female cat, with black and ginger fur and white on back paws, please contact Snarl.

“Thank you to our volunteers, who will also be distributing leaflets and to the vet for examining so quickly.

“RIP little one.”

The M25 Cat Killer, or UK Animal killer, is believed to have been attacking pets since 2014 around the South of England.

A police investigation into the case concluded the deaths were likely fox attacks, but this is strongly disputed by the charity and the cat owners involved.

The charity believes there is a separate Brighton Cat Killer.

In June, a 52-year-old suspect was arrested after an attack in Queen’s Road, Brighton, and later released on bail.

The case, called Operation Diverge by Sussex Police, focused on a string of stabbing attacks in and around the Ditchling Rise area of Brighton.

Labour councillor Chris Henry, who represents the Portland Road area, said after the latest death: “This is incredibly distressing to pet owners and pet lovers alike.

“I have raised this today with the police. I have also asked for more patrols in the Portland Road area at key times. Let’s stop this once and for all.”

Detectives in Brighton have been investigating a number of deaths or injuries to cats in the city during the past 18 months.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Sussex Police either online or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Diverge.

The Snarl charity asked people to contact it on 07961 030064 if they saw anyone behaving suspiciously around cats, rabbits or foxes.

If you see anyone harming an animal, contact the police on 999 and the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.