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DEVASTATED: Abigail Hioco, nine, beside the rose bush she planted in memory of her cat, Kizzi, which disappeared at Christmas and was found dead in a nearby pond

A MUM says her nine-year-old daughter is heartbroken after sick yobs drowned her kitten in a garden pond.

Mum of four Linda Hioco, 33, decided to get a cat for daughter Abigail after the animal-mad youngster constantly begged for a pet.

The family visited Cats Protection in Kinson and Abigail duly picked out tortoiseshell kitten, Kizzi, who quickly settled in at the family home at Swanmore Close, Boscombe East. Friendly Kizzi became a firm favourite with all the children, who also include seven-year-old Oliver and six-year-old twins Isabel and Ella.

But Kizzi was one of a number of cats which went missing at around the same time.

The worried family spent an afternoon searching for her before being told by council officers that the bodies of Kizzi and another cat had been found in a neighbour's garden pond.

Linda said: "It started on Boxing Day when our other cat, Cody, came in soaking wet.

"It was all clean water so we assumed he had a bucket of water thrown over him.

"We let Kizzi out at 8am. She never went very far from home and as soon as we opened the front door she would come running in but she never returned.

DROWNED: Kizzi

"We were looking for her all afternoon and into the evening and driving round looking. We contacted the council the next day and they told us two cats had been found in a pond.

"It was too much of a coincidence. We took a photograph round to the gentleman whose pond it was and he identified her."

Abigail and the other children have now planted a rose bush in memory of Kizzi, said Linda.

They have not dared let nine-month-old Cody outside since, she added.

She said: "We were devastated. The children were desperate for a cat for so long and we waited until they were at a responsible age.

"It was especially bad for Abigail as it was her cat and she chose her from Cats Protection. Kizzi was very much part of the family.

"It's frightening and there are an awful lot of other cats missing and posters on so many lampposts.

"It was so unnecessary. She was so sweet."

Bournemouth & District Cats Protection say at least five cats have disappeared around that area within the space of a few weeks.

9:46am Tuesday 16th January 2007

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