A cat killer who snatches pets and dumps their mutilated bodies on their owners' doorsteps is feared to have struck again.

Two dead cats were found dumped on their owners' driveway with their skulls removed, the RSPCA said.

The pets were found with the "barbaric" injuries as their owners left the house in Wick, Littlehampton, to go to work.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said vets believe the injuries, which also included the removal of one cat's brain and spinal cord, could only have been caused by a human.

The other cat lost its jaw and skull. The skin was left on both animals except for a circular cut to remove the bones. RSPCA inspectors have launched an investigation into the incident.

They believe the cats were snatched from outside their owners' home in Hearnfield Road between 1am and 5am on Friday, June 24, and driven away to be dissected.

Last summer and autumn, at least 30 cats were attacked and many horrifically butchered in Littlehampton, Rustington, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill. Most were decapitated, mutilated or had body parts removed before they were taken back and dumped on their owners' doorsteps.

Rustington pet detective June Bailey, who runs an agency which traces missing animals, said it sounded as if the latest attack could have been carried out by the same brutal killer suspected last summer.

She said: "It has been quiet for about three months. The last incident was in Bognor Regis where a cat had its head stove in. It lived for four days and the lady who owned it ended up with a £700 vet's bill and no cat."

She said there had been a similar incident in January but most attacks were carried out during the summer months.

She said: "The killings seemed to start in May last year and continued through until the winter.

"It sounds to me like a ritual killing, especially since Friday was three days after the summer solstice."

She advised animal lovers to keep their pets indoors unless supervised.

After the latest attack, vet Rachel Harrison examined the cats' bodies at the RSPCA's Fitzalan House centre in Littlehampton. She said she had never seen anything like it, adding: "I do not know how anyone has the stomach to do this kind of thing. It was really very gruesome.

"We are assuming they were hit over the head or poisoned before this macabre act took place."

Sussex RSPCA inspector Hayley Sturla said: "This is an outrageous incident and we want to highlight what has happened here because the cats did not die from natural causes.

"We want people to be aware of the situation so they are not targeted and we desperately need any witnesses or people with any information to come forward. It was such a horrific attack."

Last year, an elderly woman offered £1,000 of her life savings in a bid to catch the killer.

And a £2,000 reward was offered by West Sussex Wildlife Protection and the RSPCA for anyone giving information leading to a prosecution.

The pensioner was "dreadfully shocked" when The Argus revealed the horrific crimes against cats.

Butchered pets had their heads cut off and left in flowerpots and in carrier bags on owners' doorsteps.

Some were returned alive with eyes, legs and tails missing. Anybody with information is asked to call the RSPCA on 0870 5555999.