A poor cat was strangled and beaten so badly its eyeball popped out
CATERS The poor cat was strangled and beaten till all his bones broke
Pictures of the dead cat were circulated on social media, showing his horrific catalogue including a broken neck, broken ribs, bloodied mouth and ears and a bulging eye. The three-year-old ginger cat, called Leo, was found by a dog-walker in Riddings Park, Derbyshire, who stayed with the animal until the RSPCA arrived. His devastated owner Katie Dowler-Chell, from Derby, who is mum to Lucas, six, and four-year-old Elijah, was left heart-broken when she learned the distressing fate of her beloved cat.
CATERS The three year old cat was found by a dog walker in Derbyshire
Ms Dowler-Chell, 31, who works in admin, said: "I'd been at work and not been home long when I got a call from an unknown number, and it was a woman asking if I had a cat called Leo. "She was a lady from the RSPCA and said she had Leo with her, and she had identified him from his microchip. "She said he'd been harmed and was dead - I was completely shocked. "At first I thought maybe he'd been hit by a car - we'd lost another cat who'd been hit by a car last year, and I just thought, 'the boys will be devastated to lose another pet'.
CATERS Six year old Lucas would sleep together with Leo
"It sounded like she was struggling to put something into words - then she said, 'it's not good, he's been found with rope wrapped around him'. "They said a large branch or stick was found nearby, which they think had been used to beat him. "When I heard that, my stomach just dropped. The thought of someone doing it deliberately hadn't even crossed my mind until then - I was just stunned. "As soon as I saw him I picked him up, then just dropped to my knees on the floor and started sobbing. I was hysterical.
GRAPHIC CONTENT: Worst cases of animal cruelty Mon, November 28, 2016 WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: As part of our new 'STOP THE CRUELTY' campaign we take a look at some of the most horrific cases animal cruelty. Play slideshow PA 1 of 32 Handout photo issued by the Orangutan Foundation of Aan, a critically-endangered orangutan who was blinded after being shot more than 100 times with an air rifle. Aan is to undergo an operation that could restore her sight.
"His skull was caved in, his neck was fractured, and his broken ribs were crumbling under my fingers - as I held him I could feel them crunching and moving.
His broken ribs were crumbling under my fingers - as I held him I could feel them crunching and moving Katie Dowler-Chell, owner
"His mouth was bloodied, he had blood coming out of his ear and his eye was bulging out of the socket. "I just held him for what seemed like an eternity - I didn't really know what else to do." Ms Dowler-Chell's mum and a neighbour helped to distract the children, while she tried to process what had happened.
CATERS Images of the incident were shared on social media
She eventually had to tell both the boys the devastating news - and they were both heartbroken. She added: "My eldest started asking what was wrong - I couldn't lie, but I didn't want him to know the full extent of what had happened so I told him Leo had been hit by a car and died. "Lucas couldn't stop crying - he doesn't have a bad bone in his body and the thought of harming something would never cross his mind, so I couldn't tell him that someone had deliberately done this to Leo.
CATERS Leo was found with rope tied around him
"He wouldn't be able to comprehend it, and it would give him nightmares. "Leo wasn't just a cat, he was part of the family. He was Lucas' best friend and they were inseparable - Leo used to sleep in Lucas' bed all night, sit on his knee, follow him around. "Leo was very much Lucas' cat, but the boys are close and Elijah loved him too - they just loved being close to him, and Leo wanted to be close to Lucas all the time too. "We're all absolutely devastated - I just can't get my head around it, I can't connect the dots and work out why someone would lure a defenceless cat into their clutches, then torture and kill him for sport.
"I can't comprehend it, and it breaks my heart." Ms Dowler-Chell was also sent some Snapchat images showing the horrific acts of cruelty. Animal lover Ms Dowler-Chell, who also volunteers at Woodland Nook Cat Rescue Centre, reported the horrific cruelty to Derbyshire Police who are currently investigating the crime. She said: "I haven't slept since, because every time I close my eyes all I can see is those Snapchat pictures. All I can think of is Leo suffering in his final moments."
CATERS The brutal abuse was captured on Snapchat
RSPCA spokeswoman Rachel Butler said the cat's body was found near to the park's cricket changing rooms. She said: "He had rope tied around his chest, and had fractures all over his body. "This is a very distressing incidents and sadly the injuries the cat sustained do lead us to believe that this was a deliberate act. His owners are absolutely devastated." Derbyshire police say they want to reassure people they are taking the incident "extremely seriously" and are "continuing to work alongside the RSPCA to establish what happened".
CATERS Three boys have been interviewed in connection to the murder
A police spokesman said: "We received reports that a cat had been found dead in Riddings Park. "The cat's death has understandably sparked a great deal of emotion among people. "Detectives, along with the local safer neighbourhood team, are leading an investigation into the death of the cat and officers have interviewed three boys in connection with the incident." Police have also warned people about making threats on social media.
CATERS The police and RSPCA are investigating what happened