Wiltshire Police, which has opened a joint investigation with the RSPCA, warned cat owners in the Emerald Crescent area of Blunsdon St Andrew in Swindon to keep a close eye on their pets.

PCSO Danielle Hindmarsh said: "Four cats have died in tragic circumstances, which has been incredibly upsetting for their owners.

"These deaths have taken place in the last few days and we are working with our partners to get to the bottom of it.

"Please rest assured that we are taking these incidents incredibly seriously and we are appealing for anyone who has information about what has happened to come forward.

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"Cat owners should be vigilant about their animals where possible and consider purchasing GPS collars which are readily available online to monitor the movements of their pets," officer Hindmarsh said.

There were around 11 million owned cats in the UK, in 2022, Cats Protection said in its annual report into cat ownership.

More than one in four households (26%), own a cat, with ownership rising among young adults.