A CAT was savagely mauled to death outside its front garden.

Ben was outside the front of his home in Hoe Lane, Enfield, when a Staffordshire bull terrier off the lead set upon him earlier this month.

Ben's owner, who did not wish to be named, said: "The dog was on him, moving him around and he was helpless.

"He was 16-years-old, blind and with arthritis in his back legs."

She said she shouted at the dog's owner, who was around 25-years-old, to get the dog off.

"I think he was sorry. He asked if he (Ben) was alright," she added.

When she went to get her cat box to take Ben to the vet, the dog's owner disappeared.

At the vet's, Ben was put down as he had suffered a serious injury to his head.

"I think he would have died anyway, but they finished it for him," she said.

A spokeswoman for Enfield Council said: "The council takes dog attacks very seriously and works with police colleagues to reduce these incidents.

"Dogs walked in a public place should be under full control at all times, and if anyone has been attacked by a dog they must report it to the police immediately."

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said it was difficult for the organisation to take any action in these cases but urged dog owners to be more responsible.

She said: "The RSPCA urges owners to keep their dogs on leads and if dogs have bitten before they should be muzzled."