A HORRIFIED pet owner and her 12-year-old daughter were distraught after discovering their cat had been shot with an airgun.

Stephanie Jewitt, 46, of Highfield Road, Bradford on Avon, noticed a pellet embedded in the side of Kinky, a one-year-old chocolate Burmese.

She said: "We were very shocked, who could do something like this to a defenceless animal?

"You have to wonder what somebody who starts shooting a cat could go on to do next."

Ms Jewitt first noticed something was wrong with Kinky when she found him lying on the floor last Monday evening.

"I came home and I could see the end of a pellet sticking out of his side," she said.

"It didn't seem to be bothering him too much, but he kept licking it and it was beginning to make him bleed.

"I rang the vets and arranged to take him in the next day."

During the night Kinky managed to get the pellet out himself and in the morning appeared fine.

The vet prescribed a course of antibiotics and Kinky is making a full recovery.

Ms Jewitt said: "I think he has now used up two of his nine lives, because as well as being shot, he had cat flu at Christmas.

"He was very lucky really because it seemed as though the pellet hit him in the ribs, rather than damaging his internal organs.

"My 12-year-old daughter and I are worried now each time he goes out, but so far he has not had any more trouble."

Shooting pets can attract fines of up to £5,000 or six months in prison, as well as a ban on owning animals.

Jo Barr from the RSPCA said: "It is extremely alarming to hear that somebody has been shooting animals in the area and I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact either the police or the RSPCA to stop this happening again.

"Sadly, airgun attacks on animals are becoming increasingly common and there were over 1,100 incidents reported to the RSPCA in England and Wales over the last six months.

"These are just the tip of the iceberg as many injured animals crawl away and die and their owners are unaware of their fate."

Anybody with information about the attack on Kinky should call Bradford on Avon police or the RSPCA on 0870 7538 104.