SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Three cats from the same block had to be put down within days of each other, and their owners suspect they were poisoned.

When Ann Muller, who lives in Northland Trailer Court, heard her neighbour's cat was put down, foul play never crossed her mind.

She did not consider the prospect of intentional poisoning until her own cat, Sox, was put to sleep after coming home vomiting green and yellow bile about three weeks ago.

"I cried all weekend, but now I'm mad. I know that animals don't have the same rights, but they're still someone's pet, and I've got crying kids at home."

Following a consultation with veterinarian Dr. Tom Pisz of Great Slave Animal Hospital, Muller was told the kidney failure which lead to the cat's death was likely caused by eating lilies or antifreeze.

A third cat in the neighbourhood had to be put down soon afterwards, showing the same symptoms. Muller said nothing like this has happened in her two and a half years at Northland Trailer Court.

Pisz said while the kidney failure the cats experienced was likely caused by either lilies or antifreeze, nothing has been confirmed.

"I can only think of those two things (lilies or antifreeze) but it might be another toxin, I'm not sure. Nothing has been proven," he said.

He said a toxic substance could simply have been left somewhere accidentally, and is attracting the cats - but he did admit the events warranted caution.

"Three cats have died in the same area so there may be some issue, but we haven't done forensics," he said.

He advised people to keep their cats indoors.

"Keep your cats inside," he said. "They can be a nuisance in the neighbourhood because they pee everywhere, and some people can be mean."

Muller said there have been no more incidents since the three cats were put down, but that is because cat owners in the area are being far more cautious.

"It's pretty quiet now because everyone's keeping their cats inside, but everybody's still talking. There's one person in the neighbourhood who's feeling pretty guilty right now."

Muller has spoken to the RCMP and has been told nothing can be done because of the lack of proof.