Story By: Koen Berghuis, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

A family whose cat suddenly disappeared have found the beloved pet’s dismembered tail dumped in a flower pot in their garden.

The shocking discovery was made by the Schmerbach family from Glauchau, a town in the eastern German state of Saxony.

The two-year-old cat named Toni suddenly disappeared from the family household last month, much to the distress of mum Nicole, 29, father Nico, 36, and their 10-year-old son Maurice.

Pictures Credit: CEN/@nicole.schmerbach

However, the family now fear the worst after discovering Toni’s dismembered tail buried in a flower pot in their own garden.

Nicole said: “Our son was there with us when we found it.”

The family suspects the cat was kidnapped by an animal hater who then cut off the tail.

It is unclear whether poor Toni is still alive somewhere or whether he has been killed.

The family has reported the situation to the police.

The parents are at a loss as to who could have done this to Toni. Nicole said: “We do not have any enemies and our neighbours are very decent people.”

She posted pictures of Toni’s dismembered tail on social media in the hope that someone might come forward with information about her beloved missing cat.

Nicole wrote: “What kind of person would do this to our cat? How much hatred does he have towards us to do something so terrible?”