Garda probe after nails driven into cats’ heads

Concerned residents in a housing estate in Cavan have called for “savage, inhumane” attacks on family pets — including cats having nails driven into their heads — to stop immediately.

Regan Bunting and Mickey Higgins, who have both had cats injured in the Gallops estate in the last few months, said the attacks on the animals have been going on for about four years.

Ms Bunting had to have a kitten, Geordie, put down on Monday after finding a 3in nail embedded in his skull.

She said the cat was first unwell a month ago and as she was away, Mr Higgins had taken it to a local vet. Then last weekend, she noticed a small lump on the cat’s head.

“I touched it I noticed that it was a small metal object so I thought to myself it was a pellet or something lodged in his head,” she said.

“I tugged on the end of it and it just kept coming and coming and I was shocked and disgusted to find it was a 3in nail embedded in his head.”

Mr Higgins said the nail that was found in the cat was very similar to one that was found in his cat, Turbo, who was shot in the chest last August.

“We are very concerned about these attacks,” he said. “They have been going on now on and off for about four years on this estate.”

He said five cats had been injured in total, including one that was shot in the paw and another that was shot with a screw in the shoulder.

Mr Higgins said: “It is inhumane and cruel what they are doing, using our pets as target practice, it has to stop.”

The Cavan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has condemned the attacks, describing them as “shocking”.

Gardaí are investigating the incidents and asked anyone with new information to contact them at the local station.