A family has been left devastated after their beloved pet cat was shot with an air rifle, leaving it with life-threatening injuries.
Police are now on the hunt for the culprit, who the animal’s owners believe was someone living near their home in Roman Gardens, Kings Langley.
Pepsi, a one-year-old white female Turkish angora cat, has been left with no movement in her legs or tail, and cannot empty her bladder without veterinary aid.
“I hope that whoever did this realises the devastation that it has caused our family,” said mum of two young children Liz Beeton.
“Our lives won’t really be the same without her. It’s looking likely that she will have to be put to sleep and it would be a miracle if she survives.”
The shooting, which took place overnight on Saturday, has sparked fear amongst other cat owners who are now keeping their pets inside.
When Liz, 31, and husband Alan, 34, discovered Pepsi outside their home, she was covered in mud from the waist down and clearly in pain, so they rushed her to the Companion Care Vets surgery at Pets at Home in Hemel Hempstead. It was there that a pellet was discovered lodged in her spine.
“The angle of the pellet suggests it could have been shot from an upstairs window, from close range,” said Liz.
“It’s really distressing – we had thought that Roman Gardens was quite a safe place. Now we don’t know if there is someone leaning out of their windows and taking potshots at things.
“It has had a big effect on our children who don’t feel safe playing outside, and our neighbours are now keeping their cats inside.
“Pepsi has a brother, called Cola, and he is certainly feeling lost without his buddy around.”
Anyone with information should contact PC David Herring on 101.