A beloved family cat’s jaw has been 'obliterated' with his teeth left facing the wrong way after being shot in the face with an air rifle. Monty, a two-year-old moggie, was targeted near his home in Newbigging, Biggar, on Friday September 17, before being rushed to the vets by his horrified owners.
After being stabilised, the badly injured pet was then taken to a specialist animal hospital in Livingston where the full extent of his horror injuries were revealed. His owners, Fiona and Lee House, are now facing an eye-watering bill of more than £2500 after maxing out their insurance but are desperate to save the beloved family cat.
Monty faces an eight-week recovery from an operation which will see his jaw restructured while relying on a feeding tube in the meantime. The Scottish SPCA have launched an investigation into the circumstances and are appealing for information.
A GoFundMe page set up by Monty’s family reads: “He was shot in the neck and face which has obliterated his jaw and surrounding bones on the right hand side of the face. He was rushed into Two Rivers Vets where they supported him and did x-rays.
“He was then rushed to the veterinary hospital in Livingston where our insurance covered some care and his CT scan which showed that there was a lot more damage than first thought. His teeth were all facing the wrong way.
“The pain he was in was unimaginable the vet stated. He is currently on a feeding tube. We are now left with three options on trying to restructure his jaw and with insurance maxed we need to find another £2500 on top off separate fees we have already paid to get him his operation to give him a chance of recovery.
“This involves a very technical operation which has 8 weeks recovery with a feeding tube present which would then give him a really good chance of carrying on his life to a great quality.
“As he is two-years-old, they hope his jaw can heal and this would allow him to eat, wash and be his normal self. I know and understand we all live in desperately tough times but if you can spare anything at all to help Monty we would be forever grateful.
“He is loved dearly by myself, my wife, Robyn, two, and Fearne, eight. It has been a heartbreaking time to imagine why someone would feel the need to shoot a two-year-old cat. I just can't get my head around it all.”
Scottish SPCA inspector, Robyn Myszor, said, “We were alerted to an incident of a cat being shot with an air rifle on 16 September.
“The two-year-old tabby cat suffered a horrific injury to his face and neck. Although Monty survived, sadly, the injury has obliterated his jaw and surrounding bones on the right hand side of his face.
“Monty had to have an emergency operation but faces further surgery to reconstruct his jaw and a long period of recovery. Air weapons are not banned in Scotland but their misuse can have disastrous consequences for animals like Monty.
“If anyone has any information on how Monty sustained these injuries they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
To donate to the fundraiser, please click here.
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