A CAT nearly died after being shot by an air rifle. Vets X-rays revealed that the feline had a narrow escape after the pellet just missed a vital artery.
Instead, Misty the cat was hit in the toe and her groin, millimetres from the femoral artery. Vets say that if it had hit the blood vessel, the treasured pet would have bled to death.
The pet’s owner has been left angry and upset after the incident, which occurred in Wokingham earlier this month. It is not known who fired the rifle used in the incident and police have launched an appeal to find the culprit.
The owner, who does not wish to be named said: “After the news I was very upset, I cried a lot, but I’m also angry. I never thought that a human could be so cruel.
“We came home shortly before 5.30pm and became worried when she [the cat] wasn’t there to greet us. We found her struggling to stand in her bed and as she moved we saw blood.
“I called our vet immediately and took her straight there.”
Sue Bennett of Denton Veterinary Surgery, the vet who looked after Misty, said: “She came in with a wound on her back end and the following day we realised she had been shot.
“The pellet hit the cat’s toe and went into the rump, missing the femur but going into the groin millimetres from her femoral artery. If it had hit the artery she would have bled to death.
“She had a lucky escape and we were able to remove the pellet.”
This isn’t the first time that Denton has treated a cat shot by an air rifle – but Ms Bennett said it had been a long time since such an incident.
She added: “We used to see this a lot about 20 years ago. It’s not nice to think that someone has gone out and intentionally shot a cat.
“We hope Misty will make a full recovery with no lasting damage. Her owner is distraught and very angry.”
The owner of Misty said that cats form an important part of their family, adding that they would be lost without them.
She said: “I am so thankful that she made it home alive. Her brother missed her so much on Tuesday. It was the first time they were not together.
“I really hope they can find the hideous sick person who did this. I don’t want to let my cats outside now, I would never forgive myself if they got hurt again.”
Thames Valley Police are currently investigating the incident and a spokesperson said: “Reports of this nature are not common in the Wokingham area.
“Members of the public that witness or are aware of any form of criminal activity should contact us on 101 or, in an emergency on 999.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “People need to remember the devastating consequences that shooting at animals with air guns can have both for the animal and their owner.
“If this is a deliberate act of cruelty we would appeal to people’s consciences not to commit such a terrible offence to a much loved pet ever again.
“Under the Animal Welfare Act, if someone is caught deliberately using an air weapon to injure an animal, they could face a £20,000 fine and/or up to six months in prison.”
Anyone with information about an air gun attack can report it by calling the police or the RSPCA cruelty line on 0300 123 4999.
