Cat shot by airgun loses an eye

Police and the cat's owners criticised the culprits

A young pet cat has lost an eye after being shot with an airgun.

The one-year-old family pet was shot in the Reid Street area of Bishopmill, Elgin, Moray.

The female owner, who does not want to be named, took the black and white cat to the vet who found a pellet and removed the eye.

The owner told the BBC Scotland news website: "It's unbelievable that people can be so cruel. My children have taken it quite badly."

She explained: "My daughter said there was something wrong with the cat. His eye was closed and there was blood gushing out. He was in pain.

"My young daughter's words were if they ever catch who did this they should be jailed."

Pc Gordon Methven, of Grampian Police, said: "Such an act of cruelty is to be deplored and whoever was responsible should have to face the consequences."