A WOUNDED cat had to have her eye removed after she was shot in the face with a ball bearing during a horrific and heartbreaking attack.

The 'lovely' and 'sweet' female cat called Dilly was shot in the left eye in the Barnards Green area of Malvern and had to have the eye removed at the Masefield Veterinary Centre on Saturday.

Malvern Gazette: MAIMED: Poor Dilly was shot in the eye and blinded in MalvernMAIMED: Poor Dilly was shot in the eye and blinded in Malvern (Image: Supplied by family)

The practice shared an appeal for information in the wake of the attack on the four-year-old cat, using its Facebook page to raise awareness of the attack among cat owners.

The cat had been missing four to five days before she returned home with the horrific injury and her family, who do not want to be named, suspect she did not come back sooner because she was 'injured and scared'. As soon as she returned they rushed her straight to the vets.

A spokesperson for the vets said on Facebook: "Today we have had the most heartbreaking case. We had a cat present to us with a ruptured eye, we didn't know the cause of the injury but it was obvious the eye needed removal. We suspected an injury such as a bite to the face or a deep scratch that had got infected.

"Upon removal of the eye we found a large ball bearing situated within the eye itself. This means someone has deliberately shot, possibly with a catapult, this poor cat in the face.

"This has happened in the Barnards Green area."

In the wake of the attack, the sister of the cat's owner has come forward. 

She said: "We're absolutely devastated. We have all got cats. I have four and my sister has lots of cats as well as Dilly. We're now terrified to let them out. What if one of these ball bearings gets into a child's eye? People can't go around doing this sort of thing. It's horrendous, cruel and unnecessary."

The woman said although the main focus of attention was the suffering inflicted upon the animal, these acts also had a financial impact on the owners of cats with some from potentially low income families. 

She said of the cat: "She is a very gentle, shy, sweet, lovely cat and would not say boo to a goose. She has never scratched anyone. She is harmless. It's just so horrific."

The family say Dilly is 'doing really well considering' what happened which she said was in the Pound Bank area of the town. She is said to be adjusting well to the loss of one eye.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "I can confirm that we received a report yesterday that a cat had been shot with a ball bearing at some time on Sunday, May 7 between 4.30pm and 8.30pm.

"An offence of criminal damage has been recorded. The local Safer Neighbourhood team have been informed."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Crime Bureau on 101 extension 777 2496 quoting the incident reference of 00066_I_15052023