The mystery of the 'purr-muda triangle': 23 cats go missing from three Black Country streets
Distraught pet owners fear their cats are being targeted and killed after 23 have mysteriously gone missing in the past two years.
Some of the animals have died after being poisoned with anti-freeze, while others have vanished without trace.
Most of the cats have disappeared from just three streets in Cradley Heath, leading the area to be dubbed the 'purr-muda triangle.'
Foster parent Kate Antill, of Linton Road, has lost seven cats - three from poisoning and four which are 'missing, presumed dead' - and has vowed not to have anymore.
The 49-year-old mother of four said: "It's heartbreaking to lose so many cats in so such a short space of time, and it's upsetting for my children. They have seen the effects of anti-freeze on the cats - it's a horrible way to die. They don't understand why people would hurt their cats.
"We fear what has happened to the others who have not come back. It is too much to believe they haven't also been harmed.
"The police did help in the beginning, but obviously it isn't a priority for them."
Angela Gelencser, aged 60, founder of the Halesowen-based charity Wild Acre Rescue, which re-homes cats, has also lost her cat Bramble.
She believes some people become so irritated over cats straying into their gardens that they deliberately leave anti-freeze out for them to drink.
She said: "What is happening to cats in the area is awful. Spiteful people who hate cats using their gardens poison them and mistreat them but they are living creatures and need to be respected.
"I urge all cat owners to get their pet neutered and microchipped as that acts as proof of ownership."
Ms Anthill, who has just one cat Tilly left, said at least 15 cats had vanished, and a Facebook page set up to try and trace the missing cats indicated a further eight in the area were also missing.
She said: "We're desperate for someone to help us. We've reported it to the police and they say they can't help. We're desperate for someone to come forward and help us, we just don't know who to turn to.
"Our next step is to contact a pet detective agency in the hope they can find out what is happening."
