UPDATED 2.23pm The Hawke's Bay SPCA is trying to find a local cat-hater who seems to be illegally using traps to catch people's pets.

A pet owner in Taradale is distraught after their cat Jazz came home on Monday with a leg-hold trap attached to her lower jaw.

Jazz has recovered after a vet was able to remove the trap, which only caused flesh wounds.

SPCA manager Bruce Wills said staff have been door-knocking in the area to try to find out who is setting the traps.

"Normally in these situations you have an idea of who the local cat hater is and you can work with that, but we haven't had any of that information so far."

Mr Wills said setting leg-hold traps is not normal behaviour for someone who just dislikes cats wandering onto their property.

He said someone has be extreme in their views to set traps, knowing the damage they inflict on cats.

The SPCA manager said they will take court action if traps are used illegally.  

"The SPCA prosecuted someone in Palmerston North just last week. They were sentenced for the same act."

The Palmerston North man was fined $500 for capturing a pet cat in a serrated leg hold trap.

Mr Wills said the use of traps is a complicated issue as small leg-hold traps are legal, but cannot be set within 150 metres of a dwelling and can't be used for catching domestic animals.