The dead cat was found dumped in a County Durham nature reserve with "horrific, traumatic injuries", an animal charity says.
A black, female cat was found with plastic washing line wrapped around her neck and tied in knots in Easington Nature Reserve on December 7.
The cat also had a fractured spine, multiple severe fractures to all of her legs and her tail had a degloving injury which had left the bone exposed - though it is not know if any of the injuries occurred before or after death.
The RSPCA is investigating after a member of the public found the cat's body beside a path and took it to the vet.
RSPCA Inspector Krissy Raine said: “This must have been extremely distressing for the woman who found the cat’s body dumped in the mud next to a bench.
"This poor cat has clearly suffered horrific, traumatic injuries but we don’t know whether these were inflicted before or after death.
“The cat - a black, adult female - had plastic washing line wrapped around her neck and tied in knots.
"She had also suffered a fractured spine, multiple severe fractures to all of her legs and her tail had a degloving injury which had left the bone exposed. She was covered in bite wounds and her ears had been bitten off or cut off.
“The woman who found her body said she had been ‘torn to pieces’. What’s extremely suspicious is that the cat’s microchip appears to have been cut out from beneath the skin, suggesting this may well have been a deliberate act of torture on this poor puss.”
Vets examined the cat’s body and found she’d likely been killed a number of days earlier.
“Vets believe the cat may have been tied up with the washing line, tethered, beaten and deliberately set upon by dogs,” Krissy added.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to think about what this poor little thing went through before she died. And it’s utterly disgusting that someone may have deliberately made this cat endure such a horrendous ordeal.
“I’m appealing to anyone with any information about this awful incident to contact our appeal line on 0300 123 8018. This sort of cruelty will not be tolerated.”
