A teenager has been arrested after several cats were left badly mutilated in Norwich.
At least five animals were injured in attacks in the area over the past fortnight.
Two pets were found with their ears sliced off, with one also being left with a cut back.
Body parts of cats have were also found in allotments off of Woodcock Road on 26 March and 4 April.
On 23 April, a member of the public reported a man trying to put a cat in a holdall.
When he was challenged, he dropped the bag and ran away.
The man who has since been arrested is in his late teens and was detained on suspicion of attempted theft.
He remains in police custody.
Lottie Sparkes, head nurse at Taverham Vets which treated two of the animals, had earlier told The Independent that the cats’ injuries were “horrific”.
“Their ears had been chopped right down to the base of the head, and the first cat had a really nasty laceration across its back, which was obviously quite a really big open wound,” she said.
“These are shocking incidents,” said PC Shaun Quinn, who is investigating the mutilations.
“We know they will cause some distress to members of the community.
“We are conducting a number of enquiries and liaising with the RSPCA, as well as increasing patrols in the area," he added, in a statement released before the teenager’s arrest.
Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Shaun Quinn at Hurricane Way police station on 101
