A cat was strangled by a shoelace and left hanging from a post on an Oxford estate.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after the body of the young tabby and white cat was found in Birchfield Close, in Blackbird Leys, on Friday October 24.

It is believed the cat, which has no name tag or microchip, was strangled with a shoe lace from a sports trainer then tied to a wooden post where in her struggle to get free the shoe lace would have got even tighter.

The cat is believed to have been dead for around 24 hours before she was found.

RSPCA Inspector Will Rippon said: “This was an incredibly cruel thing to do.

“Whoever tied the cat up must have realised she would panic and try to escape and probably injure or kill herself.

“We need to find who is behind this incident and we’d also like to trace the cat’s owner, as they must be very worried about their pet and wonder why she hasn’t come home.”

Although there was no way to identify the owners of the cat the RSPCA said she was otherwise in good health and had been well cared for.

She was also wearing a black fabric collar with a silver reflective bell.

Five cats are believed to have been poisoned in Caversfield, in Bicester, in the past two months.

The RSPCA also launched an appeal after yobs set their dogs on a pet cat in Little Bury, in Blackbird Leys, in September.

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.