Cat's leg amputated after yobs launch air gun attack

HEARTLESS thugs shot a cat with an air gun at least twice, resulting in one of its legs being amputated.

Three-year-old Whisky was targeted while on her nightly prowl around her home in Bridgend, Linlithgow. She suffered a shattered tibia and fibula bones in her back leg along with a collapsed lung.

It is thought the yobs may also have kicked the moggy during the assault, which took place last Monday.

News of the callous attack follows an incident in Coventry this week where a woman was caught on camera dumping a cat into a wheelie bin.

Police in West Lothian are now appealing for anyone with information about the Linlithgow attack to get in touch.

Whisky's owner, Louise Henderson, 28, said she was "disgusted" by the shooting, which is thought had been carried out with a .22 air rifle.

"I do not want to say what I think of the people who did it but it's just totally heartless and cruel," she said.

"She went out on Monday night and came back about 9.15pm and was limping and had blood coming from underneath her leg. We just thought she had been in a cat fight and she went down and feel asleep."

Ms Henderson took her to her district vet and was horrified by his diagnosis.

"The vet said she had been shot three times or kicked," she said. "One pellet entered through the side of her stomach and exited at the top, but her leg still had a pellet in it. When they noticed the broken bones, they discussed with us (the prospect of] amputating the leg, which they did."

Ms Henderson said the air gun attack was the "last thing" she thought had happened.

"I thought she may have been hit by a car or something, but never thought she had been shot," she said. "We have never had any trouble here before and it's so sad because she's such an affectionate wee thing.

"Police have said she was shot from close range. They think she has either been shot three times or shot twice and kicked."

Ms Henderson, who lives with partner Thomas Robertson and works for HSBC bank, said Whisky is now adapting to her disability but has been spooked by her ordeal.

"The vet's happy with her progress and she is doing OK, although she has been hiding behind the couch all weekend and has only just come out."

A police spokesman said the attack was a "despicable and heartless act of cruelty" and stressed they were keen to speak to anyone who can help trace those responsible.

Mike Flynn, chief superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, said: "This is yet another sickening example of a defenceless animal being injured as a result of air gun misuse and goes to highlight the need for a total ban on air guns in Scotland."