Cowlersley cats Tilly and Pixie poisoned after drinking antifreeze

Nov 3 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TWO family cats died within 12 hours of one another after guzzling sweet-tasting anti-freeze.

The pets appeared drunk after lapping up the poisonous fluid – but were in fact suffering massive kidney failure.

Now devastated owner Gemma Richardson wants to make other animal lovers aware of anti-freeze’s potentially lethal effects – and is calling on motorists to be careful when using it on their cars.

The 27-year-old, who lives with son Brandon, seven, at Southern Road in Cowlersley, said: “I’m absolutely devastated.

“My little boy is heartbroken to have lost both cats in 12 hours.

“I just want people with cats to be aware of it and ask people to be a bit more careful when filling up their cars.”

Problems started when Gemma let six-year-old cat Tilly back into the house on Thursday.

She said: “My first impression was that she looked drunk.

“She was very wobbly on her feet and I thought she might have been knocked down.

“But the more I looked at her the more I knew she had been poisoned because I’d heard about something very similar happening on this road before.”

After taking Tilly to the PDSA veterinary centre on Greenhead Road in Greenhead, she was told the cat may have fallen and hurt herself.

Gemma was given some painkillers and took Tilly home, but the cat had a fit later that night.

She then took the animal to Donaldson and Partners vets in Aspley and, after further examination, was told she was suffering from anti-freeze poisoning.