A Canberra woman is warning pet owners to be wary, after a mesh enclosure in her backyard was apparently cut into and her cat violently killed.
Sydnee Cooke from Gordon in Canberra's south said she initially believed her cat, Marley, died while trying to escape the enclosure.
However, she was told to contact police after a vet examined Marley's body.
"The damage done to her was very brutal and suspicious. As the damage was only done to the bottom half of her body, it was not consistent with being hit by a car or attacked by a dog," Ms Cooke said.
Ms Cooke said Marley's pelvis had been fractured and a leg dislocated, with other cuts and damage to the back legs evident.
"The vet urged us to contact the police and he believed the injuries were a result of foul play," she said.
When Ms Cooke looked closer at Marley's enclosure and noticed it seemed to have been cut into with a knife or scissors.
"We looked in the backyard for evidence and for blood, as it was believed she bled to death," Ms Cooke said.
"We couldn't find any blood but we found a large cut in the netting of the tunnel.
"Seeing the cut in the tunnel, which was oddly straight and specific, made us believe that someone had intentionally cut into the tunnel to get to Marley."
Earlier in the week, reports of dog baitings in the same area were circulating on social media, with one man finding fish hooks hidden in dog treats.
A spokesman for ACT Policing confirmed officers were looking into the cat's death and would refer the matter to Domestic Animal Services.
Anybody with information about the cat's death is urged to contact police.
Ms Cooke said she would also file a cruelty report with the RSPCA.
"[Marley] was so kind-hearted, loyal and extremely loving," she said.
"She slept besides me every night and would follow me around the house whenever I was home."
