Cat dies after being shot with modified rifle

The RSPCA is appealing for information after cat was shot with a high-powered rifle leaving him with horrendous injuries.

The cat, called Duchy, was seriously injured at about 10.30pm on Friday night (March 15) near his home in Sandham Grove in Heswall.

A female resident reported hearing a gunshot at that time and said when she looked out of her window she could see a red laser coming from the field which runs behind the houses at the back of a railway line.

A few minutes later she saw her neighbour’s cat struggling to climb the fence between the two properties and went to investigate. She found the cat writhing in pain with what appeared to be a gunshot wound in the front of his body.

She alerted Duchy’s owner, Valerie Edmonson, and they rushed the injured cat to ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists in Ellesmere Port. Sadly his injuries were so severe a vet decided to put her to sleep to end her suffering.

RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, who is investigating the incident, described the injuries to Duchy as “catastrophic”.

He said:

Mrs Edmondson, who lives with her husband Keith and has had Duchy for five years, said she is devastated by her loss and also worried for other animals in the area.

She said:

Every year the RSPCA receives almost 1,000 calls to investigate cases and help hundreds of animals that are the defenseless victims of air gun attacks.

Inspector Joynes added: