A THREE-YEAR-OLD cat has been shot in Caerphilly.

The white and tortoiseshell cat was found by her owners on October 1 at their home in Gelligaer with injuries to the right side of her abdomen. It is believed the attack happened between 6-8am on the same day.

Vets confirmed the cat had been shot after finding a metal pellet in her body. The vets decided that the pellet – thought to be from an air weapon - cannot be removed as they feel surgery would be riskier than leaving the pellet there.

After pain medication, the cat is recovering but RSPCA have launched an appeal for information.

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Gemma Black, RSPCA inspector, said: “It is so shocking to think somebody in the Hengoed area has targeted an innocent cat in this way.

“Thankfully she is recovering well after the attack – but we are really eager to find out what happened here.”

Inspector Black urged that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Hengoed area on the morning of October 1 to contact the RSPCA’s inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

Between January 2020 and the end of June 2021, 371 incidents have been reported to the RSPCA's emergency line about animals reportedly targeted by an air gun or rifle.

Inspector Black added: "We sadly all too often hear of animals targeted by air weapons - and clearly more needs to be done to regulate the use of these weapons and their impact on animals.

"From basic safety training for owners, to a thorough explanation of the law - including our obligations towards animals - there's so much more we can do to ensure incidents like this don't happen so often."