Cat is shot in the face

The disabled 59-year-old, of Regent Street, Wellington, said her black cat Jet returned home with what looked like grey paint on his face but on closer inspection, she realised it was solid and in fact an air gun pellet.

Today she said she was "disgusted" by whoever hurt the cat.

She said she could not understand the motives of anyone who would inflict such harm.

She described her three-year-old pet as a timid animal who would usually allow her to do anything to him, but said he would not allow her near him following the attack and was in deep shock.

"We let him out on Wednesday and he came back Thursday morning," she said. "We thought he had a bit of grey paint on his face, but when we looked hard it was silver and solid.

"We took him to the vet and he had to have an anaesthetic to enable the vet to pull a pellet out of his face. The vet said he had been shot with an airgun."

She said the treatment cost her £77 and the shooting had been reported to the police.

"The vet has given me the pellet back to take to the police to see if they can identify what gun it's come out of," she said.

"I think whoever's done this is disgusting.

"I think cruelty to animals is the worst thing you can do. It's terrible because I look after my cats and they are company because I am disabled and housebound at times. So to find out Jet had been shot and hurt really upset me."

The shooting is being investigated by the RSPCA

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the charity on 08705 555999.

By Becky Parkinson