Sky Views: Cat killer case shows our love for pets

Sophy Ridge, politics presenter

It sounded like something out of a horror story.

The killer so cunning that he (or she?) amassed hundreds of victims, murdered and mutilated in grotesque ways, without leaving a trace of DNA or being captured on CCTV.

The "Croydon Cat Killer", we were told, began the sickening spree close to home before targeting cats across the country.

Heads and tails were frequently removed and sometimes placed near owners' homes. On other occasions, the cats were slit open. Foxes and rabbits were victims too.

A police investigation was launched and at one point a £10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the killer.

However, last week the investigation was closed after three years.

After all the emotion expended on the killer, it seems wrong somehow - an affront - that the deaths should be due to something as mundane as a car accident.

The Croydon Cat Killer doesn't exist after all, the Metropolitan Police said. The poor pets were probably killed by blunt force in road traffic accidents and scavenging foxes did the rest.

Many simply don't believe this, criticising the police for closing the case too soon.

The charity SNARL (South Norwood Animal Rescue & Liberty) which first investigated the deaths, said: "The cats who have been decapitated have had their heads removed in exactly the same manner and place each time.

"We find it difficult to understand how foxes can replicate this perfectly across a range of victims across a vast geographical area."

I can understand why people feel so strongly about the Croydon Cat Killer.

I'm a cat lover myself and followed every twist of the tale, worrying over whether to keep my cat inside, mapping the geography of the supposed killings to work out how likely it was he could be targeted.

After all the emotion expended on the killer, it seems wrong somehow - an affront - that the deaths should be due to something as mundane as a car accident.

But the fact the Croydon Cat Killer caused so much horror tells us two things.

Firstly, it's a reflection of how much we love the animals that share our houses and our lives.

Secondly, an awful lot of our beloved pets die in car accidents. Even if a killer isn't stalking our streets, families who lose an animal still go through loss. Many missing pets are never found.

With that in mind, isn't it time to extend the compulsory micro-chipping already in place for dogs and make it apply to cats?

Thousands of cats go missing every year and almost one in two never return, according to Cats Protection. But cats with a microchip are 21 times more likely to be returned to their owner.

Even if the worst should happen, the knowledge may give people closure.

The story of the Croydon Cat Killer has been mired in rumour and mistrust but one thing is clear: just how much we love our pets.

Sky Views is a series of comment pieces by Paste BN editors and correspondents, published every morning.

Previously on Sky Views: Adam Boulton - The UK needs proper TV election debates