Anti-freeze was used to cruelly poison two cats belonging to a family in Eldwick, according to their distraught owner.

Teacher and mum-of-two Emma Murby told how young pets Benji and Poppy dragged themselves home only to die in agony hours later after drinking the deadly ethanol-based fluid.

The first killing happened in October when black and white cat Benji was poisoned, but Mrs Murby’s family endured the same horror a fortnight ago when tabby Poppy met the same fate.

Speaking at the home in Bewick Drive that she shares with teacher husband Steve and sons Luke three, and Oliver one, Mrs Murby told what happened.

“We’d had both kittens from a rescue centre in April and they got on wonderfully with my shitzu dog Gizmo, who really mothered them.

“We have a little garden and our neighbours have two cats, so I never thought there was any risk.

“But in October, Benji arrived home dragging his leg. He couldn’t walk properly or jump up on the sofa – it was awful.

“I thought he’d been hit by a car so we took him to the emergency vet. But overnight he got worse and after tests we were told he’d been poisoned with anti-freeze.

“He suffered a terrible death, having fits and and great pain before dying the next day,” said Mrs Murby.

She decided it must just have been an accident linked to the cold weather, but then the same tragedy happened again on May 5.

“Poppy came back unable to walk, just like Benji, and she collapsed under the table,” she said.

“She was such a lovely little cat and there she was presenting the same symptoms.”

Poppy was rushed to the Bradford PDSA veterinary clinic. However, she died in the same traumatic way.

“Her tests also showed anti-freeze poisoning, so they must both have been fed it deliberately. It really is so sick,” said Mrs Murby, who has told her eldest son that Benji and Poppy have gone to live with friends.

She immediately called the police and RSPCA to report the poisonings.

“Local officers came round and were really good by doing a letter drop regarding cats and anti-freeze all around the estate,” Mrs Murby said. “Being an animal lover I’d taken these rescue kittens to give them a better life.

“Now I just hope someone will come forward with information on who was responsible.”

West Yorkshire Police has asked anyone with information to contact officers through the non-emergency 101 telephone number.

l PDSA senior vet Elaine Pendlebury said poisonings could be deliberate, but could also happen accidentally.

“People should be very vigilant as cats love the taste and sadly it only needs two or three teasponfuls to kill one,” she said.