A DALTON woman has issued a warning to pet owners after thugs set her cat's tail on fire with a lighter.

Dorothy Hatherley posted the warning on Facebook on Monday after reporting the incident to police. She said two of her cats had been targeted by the thugs, in the Long Lane area of Dalton.

The cat owner said she witnessed two youths laughing and burning her kitten's tail using a lighter. The kitten is understood to have been checked out by a vet.

In her post, she said: "Can everyone keep this post going, to your friends and family. In the Dalton area their are some lads going around with lighters and picking up your cats and kittens and burning their tails. This has happened to two of my cats.

"Today my kitten was squealing in a snicket behind Long Lane, and two lads were laughing, and burning my kitten's tail. I couldn't get a good look at them as i have tall privets. My kitten's tail is all scorched, and is now very afraid. PLEASE KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR YOUR PETS!!"

The post has been shared more than 1,200 times.

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