Family pet hurt after shooting
Sarah Cooper, 28, discovered family pet the Duke of Mostyn lying face down and mewing in pain in her living room.
The cat – so named because the family live in Mostyn Street, in Leicester's West End – had been shot in the stomach.
He had to have a two-hour operation to remove the pellet.
Mrs Cooper said: "The cat lay face-down on the rug which he never does, he was making a weird noise and when I tried to pick him up he wouldn't let me.
"Then he crawled under the bed and hid, so I definitely knew something was wrong."
She took her cat to King Richard Veterinary Centre, in Glenfield Road after the shooting, which happened at about 2pm on Tuesday, December 30.
X-rays showed a small sharp pointed pellet had gone in on the right side of the chest and travelled through to the left side of the belly.
The Duke of Mostyn was kept at the surgery for observation until Friday, when he was taken home.
Vet Ioana Junquera, who carried out the operation, said the pet was still very poorly.
She said: "He is doing well, although he is not out of the woods yet. He is still at risk of infection.
"If all goes well he should make a full recovery in about 10 days, but he could easily open the wound again if he goes jumping around."
Mrs Cooper said: "I want to shame the people who did it and get them prosecuted.
"I will be scared to let him out now. My dad said he would look after the cat and if he makes it then I am seriously considering taking him up on his offer."
RSPCA inspector Sally Kearns said: "Unfortunately, it is a fairly regular occurrence especially at holiday times.
"Young kids who get air rifles for Christmas can go out and start shooting harmlessly in the garden, but if they get bored and fancy a live target there's not much anyone can do.
"It can kill an animal quite easily if it hits a major organ or an artery. Some animals aren't that lucky and don't even make it to the vets."
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