A family cat had a lucky escape after being shot with an air gun – for the second time this year.
Two-year-old Maggie-May was let outside on the morning of October 14 but when she returned to her Dodleston home that afternoon, distressed owners Jane Williams and her 17-year-old daughter Harriet realised that she was limping.
X-rays revealed that poor Maggie-May had a pellet in her abdomen – just eight months after she was shot in her front right leg and had to be operated on.
Jane told the Chronicle: “We suspected it might be a pellet because of what had happened in February, but hoped that it was a bite.
“The vet confirmed that it was a pellet, which they have decided to leave in there. It’s in her abdomen but thankfully it has not gone through her stomach.
“She is either very lucky or very unlucky, I’m not sure which.”
While Maggie-May is ‘fine’ now, Jane explained that they are worried about letting her go out again and are considering making her a house cat or getting a lead for her.
Jane, who has no suspicions as to the culprit and has not heard of any similar incidents in the area, is concerned that Maggie-May has been ‘deliberately targeted’.
“I appreciate that cats can be a nuisance but just chuck some water on her, don’t shoot her,” she said.
Related: Appeal to find cruel culprits who shot pet cat with air rifle
“She’s a very friendly cat. She hangs around waiting for Harriet when she gets off the school bus.
“I am just trying to raise as much awareness as I can – everybody I have told about this is horrified.”
Jane added that her insurance company paid for Maggie-May’s treatment the first time round and she’s hoping they will this time, but ‘how often they will continue to pay is another question’.
Appeal for information
RSPCA inspector Leanne Cragg is appealing for anyone with any information about what happened to Maggie-May to get in touch.
She said: “This is a very distressing incident for Maggie-May and her owners, and one which we take very seriously.
“Sadly, this is not as rare an occurrence as you would hope, as cats tend to be vulnerable to such deliberate attacks simply because they are out there in the open on their own.
“Under the Animal Welfare Act, if someone is caught deliberately using an air weapon to injure an animal, they could face a £20,000 fine and/or six months in prison.
“We urge anyone who has any information to contact us on 0300 123 8018.”
Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 723 of October 17.
