A disgusted pet owner has slammed thugs who shot his cat with a crossbow in the Highlands. The shocking attack left a nine-inch bolt lodged in 10-year-old Nuke's body.
Residents in Kingussie in the Highlands have been left horrified by the attack, which is believed to have happened at some point this week. Nuke, a ginger Tabby, was missing for two days before he turned up at his home in the Orchard Court area of the village yesterday with the weapon jammed through his neck.
Owner Jim McLean has been left sickened by the attack on his 'friendly' feline.
The 52-year-old, originally from Newcastle, told the Record: "We've been out looking for him every day. He turned up yesterday at the back of the house and couldn't get over the fence with this cross-bow dart in him.
"We rushed him up to the vet and they said that they've never seen a cat able to walk about and still alive with a thing this size in him."
The arrow was shot at Nuke's shoulder blades and between his lungs - dodging his heart and spine by inches in the process. Jim believes the incident was deliberate - with the sick perpetrators using the cat 's friendly and affectionate nature to their advantage.
The incident has left Jim and his neighbours too scared to let their pets out amid fears the attacker will strike again.
He said: "It looks to me like whoever has done it has pinned him into a corner or whispered him over because he is such a friendly boy. The vet said that he has definitely used one of his nine lives."
"It is not an accident, it is predatory. Whoever has done this is a sick human being and I hope they get help. Putting a cross-bow into a friendly defenceless animal is just sick. Nuke would go to anybody for a cuddle.
"Whether it is kids, teenagers or adults, they obviously knew what they were doing and that they would cause harm to our cat. If they can do that to an animal, they could do it to a human.
"Everybody in the village is scared to let their animals out now. Somebody must know something about it, it is such a small, tight-knit community. It is a lethal weapon."
While Jim faces a four-figure vet bill to remove the bolt in Nuke's body, police are appealing to members of the public in a bid to trace those responsible.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At 4pm on Friday, July 22, we received a report that a cat had been seriously injured by a crossbow. The cat was found by its owner in the Orchard Court area of Kingussie and the incident was believed to have happened earlier this week.
"Inquiries are ongoing."
Meanwhile, an online fundraiser has been launched to help Jim and his family pay for Nuke's operation. It can be viewed here.
Anybody with information on the incident is urged to contact officers on 101, quoting reference number 2421 of July 22, 2022.
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