A still from documentary about the case
(Picture: VICE)The so-called Croydon Cat Killer was likely foxes, and not a human, a new study has found.
A hunt for an alleged cat serial killer was sparked after hundreds of felines were reported mutilated across London between 2014 and 2018.
More than 20,000 people signed a petition at the time protesting the Met’s conclusions - but on Tuesday, a new report said police were likely right.
Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College carried out DNA tests and autopsies on the bodies of 32 of the dead cats between 2016 and 2018.
“The results found a clear link between cat carcass mutilation and the presence of fox DNA on the carcass,” said the study.
“There was also a clear association between puncture wounds, consistent with scavenging by carnivores, and the deceased cats.”
No evidence of human involvement was found, and on ten of the cats, researchers discovered puncture wounds like those made by foxes on lambs.
For the other cats examined, antifreeze, being hit by a car, and liver failure, were among the causes of death.
“The narrative of the so-called ‘cat killer’ was a good example of the human tendency to pick out what we want from data, demonstrating our inclination to stop investigating when we think we have made a major discovery or noticed a particular pattern,” said the RVC’s Dr Henny Martineau.
“It is the job of scientists – in this instance, veterinary pathologists – to identify and overcome such confirmation bias.”
Stuart Orton, East Hertfordshire Chief Inspector, said he hoped the findings would bring comfort to owners who believed their pets were targeted by a serial killer.
“While the subject was a matter of much speculation at the time online, we now believe that there was no human involvement,” he said.
The study was published in the journal Veterinary Pathology.
