CAT owners in a York village are too scared to let their pets out following the deaths of six pets in recent weeks.

The deaths, in Stone Riggs, Stockton-on-the-Forest, which include one confirmed poisoning, have left residents calling for immediate action.

But an RSPCA spokeswoman said the poisoning could have been accidental and warned owners to be extra careful.

Stone Riggs resident Emma Marson and her four-year-old daughter, Bethanie, found their cat, Jessie, lying on the floor and shaking after being poisoned earlier this month.

They rushed Jessie to the vet, but unhappily, she died the next day.

The tragedy followed the death of four semi-tame cats belonging to Miss Marson's neighbour Shiralee Hall, and the death of a kitten discovered in nearby parkland. Miss Marson, 25, said: "My daughter is so upset, we both are. Bethanie followed Jessie around everywhere and she had to go through seeing her lying there like that. She was absolutely gorgeous, such a tame cat and she was only one-and-a-half years old.

"I just want people to be aware that there is somebody poisoning them."

Shiralee Hall, 29, looked after a family of cats that lived in her garden, four of which were found dead. She believes they were also poisoned

She now has Jessie's two kittens, Trixie and Jessie, as pets, but said she is scared to let them and her other cat out of the house in case they are also killed.

She said: "Those cats were always here, always in the garden playing, they were happy. There's somebody doing something to these cats, it's not right."

Another neighbour, Janine Gray, who recovered the dead kitten from the parkland, said her own cat recently had to have a leg amputated after someone kicked it, shattering its shoulder.

Miss Gray, 39, said: "I'm angry about it - these are people's pets we are talking about."

An RSPCA spokeswoman today advised anyone who may be putting down poison to double-check the instructions, and advised cat owners to keep their pets inside or at least keep a close eye on them.

She said: "There is a chance that this could be an accident.

"If you see it (your cat) eating anything you haven't given it, take it away as soon as you can. If your cat seems to be poorly, take it to a vet straight away."

Anyone with information regarding cat poisoning should phone the RSPCA on 08705 555999.

Updated: 10:46 Tuesday, April 29, 2003