THE death of a much-loved family cat found decapitated and its body dumped in its owners’ back garden just metres from a children’s playground in Farnham Park, has been linked to a series of other cat killings across England.

Having reviewed photographic evidence of the poor feline’s mutilated body, South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (SNARL) confirmed the killing “was done by human hand”, adding it bears all the hallmarks of the so-called UK Cat Killer.

The charity has suggested a single culprit is behind 350 cat killings it has investigated, and following the latest attack, which happened either last Friday or Saturday, local cat owners have been advised to keep their pets indoors overnight.

The owner of the Cat Killer’s latest victim, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, confirmed the “very friendly”, three-legged female moggy had been a much-loved member of their family for 14 years.

The dad-of-two added she was well known among neighbours, and “probably just hobbled up” to her eventual killer to say hello.

Their feline friend was last seen on Thursday last week, and her body was discovered in their gated back garden on Saturday afternoon.

“My 10-year-old daughter found her - but fortunately she didn’t realise she didn’t have a head which is a relief,” the dad continued.

“I would have just buried her thinking a fox had done it - but the more I looked at her, it seemed very odd because there was no blood whatsoever.

“It was a completely clean cut and there was no injuries on her body, and she was also laid in a very deliberate way in a flower bed in our back garden, just outside my daughter’s bedroom window while she was asleep.

“We decided to contact Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection really just to warn other pet owners.

“But they told SNARL and after they saw the pictures, they called me and said they were ‘100 per cent confident it was the UK Cat Killer.

“It’s all pretty disturbing and somebody’s obviously really quite unwell, which is quite worrying because you think is it going to escalate to human beings?

“I also haven’t found the cat’s head yet and spent about eight hours at the weekend trying to find it, because apparently sometimes this lunatic brings the heads back, which is not something I want to deal with.

“I really just hope they catch this lunatic.”

He added his daughter is missing her furry friend and has been unable to sleep alone since Saturday, instead sleeping in her parents’ bedroom.

The cat’s owner also contacted the police who visited the family home over the weekend, and added he is in the process of installing CCTV to the rear of their home.

Responding to the gruesome discovery, Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection posted on its Facebook page on Monday: “As you can understand this is very shocking and upsetting for the owners who found her in their back garden that backs onto Farnham Park close to the Adventure Playground.

“Surrey Police have been informed and photographic evidence submitted to SNARL. From this evidence SNARL have confirmed this was done by human hand.

“Based on the surroundings and the way this has been done it has been officially linked to [the Metropolitan Police’s] Operation Takahe or better known as the ‘UK Cat Killer’.

“We therefore issue a warning to local cat owners to be very aware and where possible keep your cats in at night.”

In a statement, Surrey Police confirmed they attended a property on Sunday, June 10, after receiving reports from a member of the public who had found a decapitated cat.

“Officers are pursuing all lines of enquiry and the investigation is still ongoing. If anyone has any information please call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference number PR/45180060841.”

According to SNARL, a cat was also found decapitated in Southampton on June 6.

The charity, which has been examining cat deaths thought to be linked to the infamous serial feline killer since 2015, said it had found a total of 500 animals, including foxes and rabbits, which had been mutilated in a similar way.

In August 2017 , SNARL released their first description of a man wanted in connection with the killings.

He is described as being “in his 40s, white, with short brown hair, between 5’8” and 5’11”, average build and possibly with some acne scarring to his face.”

A £10,000 reward if being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

“The majority of the killings are decapitations of heads, tails and paws - a few of them have been cut in half,” said Tony Jenkins, from the rescue centre.

“Typically there is no blood on the scene, so they are either killed somewhere else and then brought to the scene, or they are killed quickly with blunt force trauma and mutilated afterwards, which we have seen in many cases.”

It also comes just a week after Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection issued a warning to cat owners following reports of cats in the Weybourne area returning home with green garden twine attached to them. The charity admitted this could be a gardening-related accident but said it would “be looked into”.