THE distraught owners of a cat which was killed by a dog at night say it must be found before another pet suffers.

Neighbours in Midsummer Meadows in Shoebury were roused from their beds at 1.30am on Saturday by a loud commotion in a communal garden.

Several rushed out to find eight-year-old tabby Oz being savaged by a light brown greyhound or whippet-like dog. Despite efforts to save her, the much-loved pet died at a veterinary hospital just hours later.

Owner Holly Murray, 32, and her two daughters three-year-old Alma and Cara, five, are devastated and left pining for the family pet.

She said: “We heard an awful fight going on. There was a big dog that had our cat in his mouth and was shaking her about like a rag doll. The guy next door was rushing round trying to get the dog to drop her, but it wouldn’t let go. Even when we got her the dog wouldn’t leave. It kept trying to get her again. It was horrific.

“There are a lot of cats here and it’s quiet and normally safe, but people need to keep their pets in until this dog is found as it clearly has a blood lust.”

The tabby was treated for terrible wounds including a crushed breast bone, but vets were unable to save her.

Mrs Murray added: “This person who owns this dog might live locally. If anyone knows who it might be I hope they come forward.

“The only way I managed to make Cara smile again was to promise her a kitten, but we really miss Oz. She was a lovely cat.”

The family called police who said the matter was the council’s responsibility, but it appears little can be done.

Neil Vann, Southend Council's principal environmental health officer, said: “In order to take action we would need to be able to identify the dog’s owner, so we could then advise them officially not to permit the dog to stray.

“The law addresses the issue of dogs dangerously out of control in a public place, but this would not apply if an incident occurs on private property. However, it is also unlikely that enforcing authorities would take action for a dog on cat attack.

“The council’s animal warden collects stray dogs during working hours.”