Edmonton police are investigating a string of cat deaths in a quiet southside neighbourhood.

A mutilated cat was found Tuesday, making it the fifth suspicious cat death in the area this summer. The dead cats have all been found in Greenfield, around 117th Street and 37th Avenue.

Residents first noticed mutilated, dead cats several years ago — some of them chopped in half — but the attacks have increased.

On Wednesday, one person living in the area told CBC News the deaths are alarming, and another expressed fear that dogs would be next.

"It's disturbing because it means there's a sick person, an ill person, who needs help out there doing this," said resident Susan Nimmo, a cat owner.

The deaths have drawn the attention of Edmonton police, said spokesperson Patrycia Thenu.

"It is concerning to police because of the number of incidents in a row, in a short period of time," she said. "It's three in the last five days, and then there was also one in July and one in May. "

Thenu said a detective from southwest division has been assigned to the cases, but that the investigation is still preliminary.