A DISTRAUGHT mum is calling for a "monster dog" to be muzzled after it tore her cat to pieces.

Amelia Donovan wants to warn parents and cat owners to watch out after her 14-year-old black cat, Frankie, was mauled to death by a French mastiff.

Frankie was so severely injured his owners had to identify him by having his microchip implant scanned at an animal centre.

Mum-of-two Mrs Donovan, of Drive Mead, Coulsdon, fears young children could be the next target for the out of control dog.

She said: "This dog is vicious. Frankie was practically eaten up by this frightening beast.

"People around here are scared of this dog because it is wild looking, it behaves like it lives in a jungle, not a street in Coulsdon."

Mrs Donovan, 42, says her sons Ben, 13, and Alfie, 6, have been left traumatised by Frankie's death.

She added: "My neighbour told me she saw Frankie try to run away from this dog.

"She told me she had seen a huge dog coming running into our garden, my poor Frankie tried to escape but the dog dragged him out of a bush.

"Now my children and I are frightened of this animal and I know mothers who are too terrified to let their toddlers play outside because of this beast.

"I have heard once they get the taste of blood they go wild and I am terrified it will come back."

Officers from Coulsdon West Safer Neighbourhood Team confirmed they have visited the owner of the dog.

PC George Booth said: "We investigated the incident by visiting the owner and giving them some advice about controlling their animal."

PC Booth added that he had contacted the RSPCA.

Mrs Donovan, who now only has Frankie's brother Harry as a pet, is calling on the owner to muzzle his dog.

She said: "My Frankie was wonderful. He was older than my children and in the weeks before he was attacked we had spent so much time together. He was gentle and kind and a great family pet. We don't want a child to be hurt – or worse, killed."