A DISGUSTED cat owner told of his anger today at the shotgun wielding maniac who nearly killed his pet when it was blasted with 15 pellets.Mark Ames, of Creeting Road, Stowmarket, assumed his two-year-old moggy, Reef, had been run over when he came limping through the cat flap just after midnight.

Naomi Cassidy

A DISGUSTED cat owner told of his anger today at the shotgun wielding maniac who nearly killed his pet when it was blasted with 15 pellets.

Mark Ames, of Creeting Road, Stowmarket, assumed his two-year-old moggy, Reef, had been run over when he came limping through the cat flap just after midnight.

However a visit to the vet revealed that he had in fact been shot with 15 pellets - but miraculously survived. The pellets had all amazingly avoided the cat's internal organs.

It is thought the bullets came from a single fire from a shot gun.

Police are now looking for those responsible and are appealing for any witnesses to the incident, which is thought to have happened some time between 8pm last Friday, May 2, and 12.30am on Saturday, May 3, in Creeting Road.

Mr Ames, 29, said: “He came through the cat flap and was dragging his back legs.

“I thought he had been hit by a car as he seemed very stressed. He went to the vets and an x-ray found that he had 15 shot gun pellets in him.

“In a way it would have been better if he was run over. I don't want to even think that this was done maliciously. To think somebody did this on purpose is awful.

“I would like to hope it was someone out hunting for rabbits on the land at the back of my house and they didn't see him because it is dark. It would still be illegal for them to be doing that though.”

The cat is still slightly weak and unable to jump but Mr Ames is confident he will get back to normal eventually.

The vet has said that Reef will not need an operation to remove the pellets as they will grow out over time. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Sophie Wilkinson, for RSPCA East region, said: “We find it abhorrent that anyone would deliberately use animals as targets. It causes a huge amount of pain and distress for the animal.

“People often target cats because they think they are not going to be caught. They are the most targeted animal because I think people try to get them off their land. They have to realise that targeting them like this is illegal and causes a lot of pain.”

If you saw anything and can help police with their enquiries call Pc Jon Eaves at the Stowmarket North Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Have your pets ever been injured in a similar way? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk