Aussie family's devastated warning after three cats die in three days

A heartbroken family who lost their three cats in as many days in a suspected pet-baiting incident at home has issued a dire warning as pets continue to be targeted across the country.

At the start of the month Emily Gardner-Hudson, 21, arrived back at her Crestmead home in Queensland to find her sister's cat Theodore dead in the "sheltered cat pen" in the backyard. What initially was thought to be a natural death quickly turned suspicious when the family's other two cats were found "clinging to life" days later.

"My cat Cuddles was totally fine that morning... [by] 11.56 am she was pronounced dead. I have never seen so much blood... it was like a hose and it was the most traumatic thing I've had to witness," Gardner-Hudson told Yahoo News, explaining her beloved cat bled from her abdomen and mouth.

The third cat Pebbles was taken to the vet where the family was told she had suffered neurological damage and was later euthanised to "end her suffering".

"The feeling is very much still raw for us all, it's definitely not something we could ever be prepared for... it happened so soon and [was] so horrific," she said.

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Family suspects rat bait was 'thrown over their fence'

The deaths have been attributed to either rat bait or aspirin which was "thrown over the fence" in a plastic bag. The family is now searching for the offender of the crime and contacted the local council and the RSPCA to alert them.

"So far we only have suspicion on who may have done it... but we can't point fingers," she said. "[The council said] there isn't enough evidence to go by even though we had the vet's knowledge of the poison and the bag was found."

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Logan City Council in regards to the alleged incident.

It is an offence to administer, feed or lay poisonous bait near an animal to cause harm, with offenders facing a maximum penalty of $48,390 in Queensland.

Family's urgent warning as pet baiting continues in Australia

There have been a number of pet baiting incidents across the country in recent years and many have ended with fatalities.

Multiple incidents of entrails found laced with poison in Sydney parks sparked warnings from residents and vets last year, and Melbourne has also been rocked by pet baiting allegations, with several dogs needing urgent medical assistance and one Chihuahua dying after ingesting a poisonous substance last January.

Gardner-Hudson has urged Aussies to "keep an eye on your pets", even if the animals only live within the bounds of your backyard.

"Please keep an eye on your pets, and look out for potential signs of poisoning or sickness," she said. "Our fur babies showed no signs whatsoever, they were all healthy and perfectly happy.

"We are shattered."

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