Media releases

The following statement has been issued by RSPCA South Australia:

At approximately 11:50am on Saturday, May 26 RSPCA South Australia received a call from Nuriootpa police regarding five deceased cats found beside Victor Road, about 2km north-east of Greenock, in the Barossa Valley.

A couple walking their dogs along the dirt road had made the discovery and contacted Nuriootpa police.

RSPCA South Australia Inspector Cheryl Doudle met with police and together they attended the scene where the cats had been found. The cats appeared to have died sometime within the previous 24 hours.

All five cats had suffered head injuries, one cat had had its tail removed, one of the cat’s tails was broken and two of the cats’ tails had been ‘degloved’.

One cat was microchipped and contact was made with the cat’s owner, who lives in Greenock. The owner advised Inspector Doudle that her cat had been missing for about 24 to 48 hours prior to the discovery.

The remaining four cats were not microchipped and had no identification on them. The cats were in good condition and appeared to be owned cats.

RSPCA South Australia is now appealing for information to help locate the owners.

Descriptions of the four cats are as following:

1. Black and white 4-month-old domestic short hair male kitten.
2. White and tabby domestic short hair 10-month-old female cat.
3. Tabby and white domestic short hair female adult cat.
4. Black and white domestic short hair female adult cat – heavily pregnant

Anyone who may have information that will assist with this investigation is asked to urgently contact RSPCA South Australia’s 24-hour cruelty hotline on 1300 477 722.

Under South Australia’s Animal Welfare Act, anyone found guilty of aggravated cruelty towards an animal can face fines of up to $50,000 or four years in prison.