RSPCA appealing for information after cat found dumped in bin with rat bait at Henley Beach South

A two-year-old male cat has been found dumped inside a bin in “one of the most appalling acts of cruelty” a RSPCA inspector has ever seen.

The cat is now in the care of the RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter. There is no indication he ate the rat bait. Picture: RSPCA South Australia

An abandoned cat – and food laced with rat poison — have been found dumped inside a suburban garbage bin, in a case described by a RSPCA inspector as “one of the most appalling acts of cruelty” she has investigated.

RSPCA South Australia is appealing to the public for information after a man made the shocking discovery while he was walking his dog on the esplanade at Henley Beach South shortly after 1pm on Thursday – when the temperature was 29C.

The cat, a two-year-old overweight desexed male, was in a plastic carrier that had been shoved inside a large garbage bag, then dumped in the blue-lidded council bin.

Dry cat food laced with six blocks of rat poison had been left in the carrier, along with a blanket.

The cat was found inside a carrier, which had been placed in a garbage bag and into the bin. Picture: RSPCA South Australia

The two-year-old cat was discovered in a bin by a man who was walking his dog. Picture: RSPCA South Australia

Cat food, including some laced with rat bait, was also found in the carrier. Picture: RSPCA South Australia

The man rescued the cat from the bin and he was taken to the RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter for monitoring, but there is no indication he ate the poison.

Inspector Emma Shepley described the case as “one of the most appalling acts of cruelty” she has investigated.

“How anyone could dump an animal is difficult to understand, but to leave a live animal trapped inside a cage in a hot bin, with poison, makes this incident especially disturbing,” she said.

“If this cat hadn’t been found when he was, there is a high probability he would have suffered a slow and agonising death.

“It is both shockingly cruel and unnecessary, when there are humane options to surrender unwanted animals to a reputable animal welfare organisation like RSPCA or find them new homes.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence that can attract up to two years imprisonment or a $20,000 fine, while anyone who causes an animal harm could be jailed for up to four years or fined $50,000.