Woman finds neighbour's pit bull dog eating her cat

Warning: Story below contains details of dog's attack on pet cat

The owner's video shows the dog eating her cat (LiveLeak/screen grab)

Disturbing footage has surfaced online purporting to show a woman arriving home to discover her neighbour’s pit bull eating her cat.

A clip of the attack shows the unnamed owner discovering the dog gnawing on the body of her pet inside her Texas property.

It is not known how the dog was able to gain access to the home, but the front door is seen to be open in the 30-second video of the incident filmed by the owner.

The clip has since been viewed online more than 500,000 times on video-sharing website LiveLeak.

"This dog just came into my house and killed our cat," the woman explains while sobbing.

"I can’t get out… it’s eating my cat."

The video description claims the pit bull belonged to the woman's neighbour.

It says the cat’s owner intends to press charges in connection with the attack.

The RSPCA described the incident as "upsetting" for the owners of both animals involved.

It advised any British dog owners concerned that their pet poses a similar risk towards animals to ensure it is under control at all times, as well as speaking to a vet, who may refer them to a clinical behaviourist.

"This must have been incredibly upsetting for the cat's owner as well as the dog's," a spokesperson for the animal charity told The Independent.

"Predatory behaviour is influenced by the fact that domestic dogs descend from wolves which chase animals to obtain food.

"Whether or not a dog displays a particular behaviour is also influenced by an individual dog's experiences including how they have been brought up, trained and cared for.

"People have also bred dogs to help perform particular tasks which means that certain breeds of dogs have been selected to enhance, prevent or reduce certain behaviours.

"For example, greyhounds have been bred to be excellent at chasing whilst terriers are typically good at killing other animals. However, the breed of dog is no guarantee that this type of behaviour will be displayed.

"Positive relationships between dogs and other animals and appropriate behaviour towards them can be achieved through good experiences and training, especially when puppies."