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A cat and two guinea pigs owned by Sergei Skripal have died, after being found malnourished inside the poisoned ex-spy's sealed-up home.

Vets found Nash Van Drake, the black Persian cat owned by Mr Skripal, in a "distressed state" in Skripal's Salisbury home.

The Government last night confirmed the cat was taken to the Porton Down chemical weapons lab for testing, but was in so much pain, the decision was taken to have him put down.

Mr Skripal’s two guinea pigs were also found in the house, but had died of thirst.

(Image: Facebook)

Nash Van Drake’s body, and those of the two guinea pigs, were immediately incinerated, over fears they may have been contaminated with the deadly novichok nerve agent.

A Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “The property in Wiltshire was sealed as part of the police investigation.

“When a vet was able to access the property, two guinea pigs had sadly died.

"A cat was also found in a distressed state and a decision was taken by a veterinary surgeon to euthanise the animal to alleviate its suffering.

"This decision was taken in the best interests of the animal and its welfare.”

It came after Skripal’s neice, Viktoria, demanded answers from the government over what happened to the pets.

Viktoria, 45, says she hopes to travel to the UK soon to see the seriously ill 66-year-old and his daughter Yulia, who were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury on March 4.

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(Image: east2west news)

Viktoria stressed claims the pair were hit with a lethal nerve agent, known as Novichok , while at his home in Wiltshire are untrue because no reports have mentioned the deaths of his two cats and two guinea pigs.

Police investigating the attack, which has sparked a major row between Britain and Russia, say the highest concentration of the chemical was found on the front door, suggesting it was likely the duo were poisoned at home.

But Viktoria has dismissed the assertion as "nonsense".

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(Image: east2west news)

She said: "First of all, it is not possible to go close (to the house).

“Secondly, if they were poisoned there, what happened to the animals?

“They had a cat, Masyanya, from Russia and one more cat from a shelter. Then there were two guinea pigs.

“The cats might run away but the guinea pigs should have been found dead in their cage.

“Nothing has been said about this."