A cat owner has spoken of the moment she found her seven-month-old kitten “deliberately ripped apart” by a dog that had been goaded by two teenage boys.

Laura Evans’ pet Tabbers was killed outside her home in Honeysuckle Grove, Greater Leys, Oxford, last week in what is thought to be the latest in a string of similar incidents.

A cat belonging to neighbour Deana James needed treatment after it was apparently mauled recently, while fellow Honeysuckle Grove resident Denise Harvey said she knew of a cat that had been killed in similar circumstances in nearby Three Corners Road in July.

On October 24, the body of a young tabby and white cat was found hanging from a post by a shoelace in Birchfield Close, Blackbird Leys.

Miss Evans, 24, said she could not be sure what breed of dog attacked her cat.

She added: “I heard lots of shouting, but I thought it was a row and I didn’t want to get involved. Then it got really loud right outside my front door. I ran to the window and I could see two lads with a dog.

“They saw me and said ‘get off it’. I got to the front door and saw they’d got the cat. They ran off laughing and I tried to chase them, but they got away.

“They must have had the cat — it was ripped apart. I knew straight away it was not an accident. They were standing there clearly goading it.”

Miss Evans — who also owns Tabbers’ mum Rosie and his brother Magic, along with three very young kittens — said she was now thinking of giving some of her pets away to keep them safe.

“I love my cats,” she said, “but I don’t feel they’re safe here, and I don’t want to keep them inside all the time.”

Shortly before the incident, Miss Evans was outside with her 17-month-old daughter Ellie-Jayne.

She said: “Ten minutes before it all happened I was walking to the front door and my little girl was splashing about in the puddles. If the dog is that nuts to attack a cat like that, I dread to think what it could have done to her.

“I know it’s not really the dog’s fault, it’s the owners that bring them up to behave like that.

She added: “I just want everyone to know what’s happening and for people to be aware of it.”

RSPCA spokesman Calie Woozley said: “The RSPCA has recorded a huge increase in the number of calls regarding ‘dangerous’ dogs, dog fighting on the street or dogs used as intimidation or weapons.”

RSPCA vet David Grant said: “Unfortunately, a lot of people are buying these dogs without knowing how to look after them.

“On one hand, this can lead to a lack of training and dogs running wild, and on the other it can mean cruelty and aggression.”

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The RSPCA can be reached on 0300 1234 999.