Kitten 'Ripped To Pieces' On Christmas Eve During 'Illegal Fox Hunt'

A cat charity claims a seven-month-old kitten was 'ripped to pieces' during an illegal fox hunt on Christmas Eve.

Only 'bits of fur' were left after the kitten, named Tiger, was killed by dogs from The Bramham Hunt in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, according to Cat Action Trust 1977 Leeds.

Branch leader Shelia Pickersgill said Tiger was torn apart by the dogs.

Speaking to Metro, she said: "The owner found the cat. The dogs came through and the cat was found all over the place. All that's left of him is bits of fur everywhere. It's disgusting that this goes on in this day and age. It's barbaric."

Cat Action Trust 1977 Leeds announced the sad news in a post on Facebook on Boxing Day, in which it described fox hunters as 'mindless b******s'.

The post read: "COUNTRYSIDE PEOPLE BEWARE.

"If you live in the countryside anywhere near Fox Hunts please keep your cats in today, being the main hunting day of the year.

"We got the terrible news this morning that one of the kittens we homed in the summer, now seven months old, was ripped to pieces by the Bramham fox hunt just before Christmas.

"The owners are devastated as you can imagine and will be taking further action to try and have something done about this ILLEGAL blood sport. They are mindless b*****ds in control of murdering dangerous dogs."

Cat Action Trust 1977 Leeds

Luke Steele, an independent hunt monitor, said he witnessed the hunt on the Bramham Estate and called Bramham Estate resident agent Nick Pritchard to ask that he disband the hunt. However, Mr Steele claims the hunt continued onto the land of the Hellwood Racing Stables in Scarcroft, where Tiger was allegedly killed.

According to Metro, Mr Steele said: "The Hunting Act is clear that landowners have a responsibility to ensure wildlife is not chased or killed by hounds on their land and those facilitating hunting could easily find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

"Bramham Park should now fulfil its obligation to prevent wildlife crime and maintain strong community relations by no longer inviting the hunt in light of the events on Christmas Eve."

A spokesperson from the Badsworth and Bramham Hunt said: "The Hunt were in the vicinity on the 24th December and are aware that a young cat went missing. Hunt officials are liaising with the owner at this difficult and sensitive time."

A spokesperson from West Yorkshire Police said they 'had received information in relation to alleged illegal hunting on 24 December and are currently assessing the information'.

Topics: uk news, Animals, Cats

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey