A cat was found decapitated in the borough earlier this month.

Campaigner Helena Abrahams, 52, found the cat dead on Park Avenue in Prestwich on Tuesday, March 12.

The killing is among a number of similar disturbing incidents reported in the region recently, including the discovery of 13-year-old tabby cat Poppy, who was found decapitated on Saxon Street in Middleton on Thursday, March 21.

Helena said: "The cat had been beheaded by someone who is absolute scum.

"She had been placed strategically to cause shock the person that found her."

The cat was taken to Vets Now pet emergency hospital on Bury Old Road.

Helena said was advised not to share her findings by the police and the RSPCA as it would "encourage the maniac to do it again" but she was desperate to reunite the cat with its owner.

She said: "It will probably cause this loser to carry on, as it becomes a game to them, but I want to find this baby’s owner." 

Helena attributes the spate of killings to a recently aired television programme about the "Croydon cat killer", who is believed to have killed more than 400 cats from 2014 to 2018.

She added: "Even sat watching it, I knew some loser would become a copycat killer and it’s happened."

Helena founded Gizmo's Legacy in memory of her cat who died in 2016 after being hit by a car.

She wants a law to be introduced which would ensure cats and dogs fitted with microchips are scanned before they are put to sleep. The law would help reunite pets with their owners. 

She has campaigned for years and is currently working with Bury North MP James Daly to bring the law to Parliament.

If you have any information about the killing of the cat contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.