A distraught cat owner has told of her anguish after a callous mystery attacker has shot her beloved cat EIGHT times in two weeks.
Splinter the moggy is quite literally on his ninth life after surviving the attacks so far, although his owner Pauline Hughes fears he may not be so lucky if it happens again.
Police are now investigating the attacks on Splinter, who is believed to have been shot with an airgun in an alleyway behind Pauline's home in Faller Fields near Lydney, Gloucestershire.
She believes the attacks on poor Splinter were done by a local resident for no reason other than simply a dislike for felines.
"I get that not everyone likes cats, but if that's the case why don't they just shoo him out of their garden or squirt water at him to scare him or something like that," she said.
"It's animal cruelty, it's just not fair to treat an animal in this way. If they have a problem with him they should follow him home and come and talk to us.
"What they've done is out of order - it's ridiculous."
Pauline explained that Splinter has been shot twice in the spine, four times in his rear leg, once in his stomach and once in the front of his chest.
Pictures she has shared on social media show the extent of the injuries.
"I suggested to the police in the first instance that I could go out and knock on people's doors to try and find something out, but they advised me not to as if they can do this to an animal, imagine what they might do to a human", she continued.
She added: "I'm so angry and upset about it that it's best if the police handle it now."
A section of the Animal Welfare Act states that deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal is illegal and anyone caught doing so can face up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.
Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward, and Pauline has been in regular contact with Victim Support over the last few weeks.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: "Police have received two reports that a cat sustained wounds in Lydney last month.
"The incidents were reported as taking place near Faller Fields which back onto Mount Pleasant on Saturday 20 and Wednesday August 31.
"The cat is thought to have been shot with an air rifle and has since received veterinary treatment."
