A disturbing series of cat killings in York Region have police sending out an appeal for help.

Six cats were killed in a residential area of Whitchurch-Stouffville, their heads left lying on the ground.

York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden says the deaths are not accidental nor are they “the result of a predatory animal.”

The incidents:

  • Aug 12 – severed cat head was found near a day care
  • Sept. 5 – cat head found in a residential area
  • Sept. 8 – York Regional Police called after 3rd cat head is found
  • Sept. 9 – cat head found near Summitview Public School
  • Sept. 11 – cat head again found next to a curb in a residential area
  • Sept. 13 – woman finds her cat’s head outside her home

Pattenden says the incidents all happened in a very small area in Whitchurch-Stouffville, in public places within one kilometre of Tenth Line and Main Street. 

“The concerning thing to York Regional Police … is the link to all these events,” Pattenden says. “The position of each of the heads appeared as though it was placed.”

He says there was no blood at the scenes, indicating the dismemberments didn’t happen where the heads were found. No torsos have been found. Police are working with the OSPCA and York Region bylaw officers, and say the investigation is ongoing.

Ann Marie Bowker found one of the decapitated cats while with her two kids.

“We thought it could be a stuffed animal or something. There was no blood,” she says. “But a cat’s head.”

Brad Dewar with the OSPCA says it’s a concerning issue. The OSPCA investigates about 16,000 animal cruelty complaints every year. And while it's not known who is responsible for the attacks, it appears they are connected.

“This particular case is more concerning because of the number of animals that have been located in such a short period of time and the manner in which they were found,” he says.

Dewar urges pet owners to “keep them indoors. If they are outside, please keep them in sight.”

Pattenden says other than the one incident, it’s unclear who the animals belonged to, and they’re not sure if the cats were all domestic.

“We’re trying to find out what happened, so we can bring an end to it and bring these people to justice,” he says. “We don't know what the motive is … but placing something like this in a public location, it would appear there is some sort of intent there. What the motive is or what the message is is unclear."

Police are asking residents to contact Georgiana animal control if their pets went missing during the time period where the cat heads were found, and to contact police if they see anything out of the ordinary that could lead to a break in the case.

The OSPCA says it does not think this week’s incident involving a skinned cat in Innisfil is related to these incidents in Whitchurch-Stouffville.