A CAT owner has delivered a warning to other animal lovers after his beloved pet was shot in a suspected air gun attack.

Fred Orme, of St Wulstan’s, Upper Welland, was shocked when six-year-old tabby Clyde returned home badly injured late one evening.

Mr Orme and his wife Pat, who have another cat called Bonnie, originally thought he had been attacked by a dog, but pieces of plastic pellet were found embedded in his leg and fragments of metal showed up on x-rays.

He has since had his front right leg and shoulder amputated and has returned home after 10 days at the vets.

Clyde is making steady recovery, but is hopping uncomfortably and won’t be going outside for about a month while he regains his confidence and strength.

Mr Orme said: “I’m glad he came home and he wasn’t bad enough to stay where he was shot and die. It was upsetting enough, but we would have been heartbroken then. Round here you don’t expect it because it’s such a beautiful place to live.”

He added: “I’m warning the pet lovers around the area that there is this danger. There needs to be an awareness.”

John Hope-Ryan, owner of Masefield Veterinary Surgery, in Court Road, said: ”Down to the fact that there was multiple entry wounds there is no way that this was anything other than malicious.”

“As far as a gunshot injury to a cat that is about the worst I have ever seen. He was in a huge amount of pain.”

Police are investigating and would like to hear from anyone with information. A spokesman said: “Whoever is responsible is not only causing deliberate pain and suffering to an animal, but they could also be putting people’s lives at risk by using a weapon in public. Such behaviour is very dangerous and offenders caught will be dealt with robustly.”

Anyone with information should call 0300 333 3000, quoting 160-5-300811, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) said: "Hundreds of animals are needlessly suffering as reckless air gun users continue to take pot shots at animals. Cats are the most frequent victims of air gun attacks, but dogs, birds and wildlife have also been injured in this heartless way.

“Our vets are treating increasingly severe injuries because of the immense power of modern air guns."

To report an air gun incident, or any other form of animal cruelty, call the RSPCA's 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 123 4999.