The torture of two kittens has angered Waikouaiti police, who are determined to track down those responsible.
One kitten had had one ear cut off, the other partially cut off, and a broken hind leg.
A second kitten, also with its ears cut off, was found dead.
In his monthly newsletter to the Waikouaiti community, Constable Jon Paul Tremain said police were notified on May 17 that two cats had died after being tortured.
The nature of the injuries was "so disturbing", Const Tremain said he was not prepared to describe it in his newsletter, but Dunedin SPCA inspector Julie Richardson said she was contacted by a Waikouaiti vet on May 16, who said a member of the public had found the seriously injured kitten and had taken it to the vet. It had since died.
She was told another two cats had been found squashed on the road.
It was unclear if any of the incidents were connected, but the two ear-cutting incidents, at least, were on the extreme end of animal abuse.
It was rare to have such abuse reported in Dunedin, Ms Richardson said.
Const Tremain said he was appalled by what he had seen.
"[I] cannot understand how anyone could abuse an animal like this."
He said he had since received information indicating more cats or kittens may have been abused.
He encouraged anyone with information to contact police.
