Concern for cats after shooting

An air rifle pellet had lodged in the cat's spine

A cat which was left paralysed after being shot with an air rifle has been put down by RSPCA vets.

Inspectors were called to a garden in Southmead, Bristol, where the injured black tom cat was found.

He was taken to the charity's clinic and put down to end his distress after an x-ray revealed two air gun pellets had lodged in his spinal cord.

RSPCA inspector Alan Barnes says he is concerned other animals on the Southmead estate may now be targeted.

"Clearly someone in the area is mindlessly taking pot shots at cats and our concern now is that someone else's pet could also get injured or killed," he said.

"We need to find the person responsible for this cowardly and senseless act before any other animals suffer."

More than 1,100 airgun-related injuries on animals were reported to the RSPCA in England and Wales in the last six months.