Brighton family 'devastated' as beloved pet killed in spate of cat stabbings

Merlin the cat and owner Claire Taylor (Photograph: Claire Taylor/SWNS.COM)

There are fears a new cat killer is on the loose after a series of attacks on pets in Brighton.

Dubbed the South Coast Cat Killer, the culprit is believed to have killed or maimed beloved pets in a series of attacks in the city.

Sussex Police has launched an investigation into the brutal killings, which started in September, with detectives confirming the injuries are consistent with stab wounds.

One of the victim's owners described the horrific ordeal after her seven-year-old daughter found their cat Merlin slashed open and dying on the street.

Merlin the cat, who was found injured by his owner Claire Taylor (Photograph: Claire Taylor/SWNS.COM)

Claire Taylor, 35, said: "My daughter went to her bedroom and said she could hear Merlin outside the bedroom window, a usual route for him to come in in the mornings.

"She started shouting 'Mum he can't get up! Oh my god! Oh my god there's blood'.

"I panicked and rushed to the window where I could see Merlin lying outside with his intestines completely out.

"He was lifting his little head and crying out so I grabbed a blanket and rushed outside to the back of the house and jumped down to get outside the window.

"I wrapped him up and comforted him, but I wasn't sure whether he was going to survive the journey to the vets.

"His head felt cold and the injuries were horrific.

"I called a taxi and he helped me lift Merlin out.

"We made it the vets and my partner even rushed back from work from Storrington to be there.

"We knew there was no hope for Merlin and the vet advised he be put to sleep. My partner and I were there for his final breaths, comforting him."