Research by veterinarians has found that foxes were likely behind mutilations linked to the Croydon cat killer, supporting the Met’s conclusions.

Fears that a serial killer was on the loose emerged in 2014, after hundreds of cats were reported to have been mutilated across south London.

Some reported finding animals decapitated, while others had their tails docked.

Six cases were deemed to be suspicious and required further investigation, during which time another 400 reports of cat mutilations were collated in and around London.

But Scotland Yard said there was "no evidence that any of the cats had been killed by a human", suggesting they were likely killed in vehicle collisions and subsequently mutilated by foxes.

Research from Royal Veterinary College (RVC), involving post-mortem examinations on 32 cats, from which DNA samples were taken, has reached similar conclusions.

According to Sky News, RVC said: "A significant association between cat carcass mutilation and the presence of fox DNA was demonstrated.

"There was also a clear association between puncture wounds (consistent with scavenging by carnivores) and the deceased cats."

Dr Henny Martineau, head of veterinary forensic pathology at the RVC, added: "The narrative of the so-called 'cat killer' was a good example of the human tendency to pick out what we want from data, demonstrating our inclination to stop investigating when we think we have made a major discovery or noticed a particular pattern.

"It is the job of scientists - in this instance, veterinary pathologists - to identify and overcome such confirmation bias."

On the ten cats studied which had been mutilated, RVC found strong similarities to the scavenging pattern of foxes on lambs.

In September 2018 the Met Police closed its probe, named Operation Takahe, into the supposed killer, having investigated reports from members of the public of mutilated cats, often found with their heads and tails removed, in Croydon and the surrounding area.

The police said there was “no evidence” to suggest a human was involved in the deaths, concluding that the mutilations were likely the work of foxes scavenging on run-over cats.

News Shopper reported on multiple incidents where the killer was deemed responsible.

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