My cat's been shot but he's fine!

[berties mum]

Only just seen this and am truly shocked - it's like when Minnie was attacked by a dog who someone set on her deliberately, I just can't believe how cruel some people can be to animals.  Definitely contact your local papers - there was a fair bit of this in my area about a year ago and the papers were only too happy to raise awareness.  Thank goodness Jet is okay.

[jetcleo]

A friend has suggested that i contact the local free papers to see if they'll put an article in especially in the world of growing gun crime.  If nothing else it will highlight to others in my neighbourhood that someone / people are happy to fire guns at poor defenceless animals!!

Will give that a go tomorrow, as for Jet he doesn't understand why he's getting all the attention today, will just monitor him and see how we get on in the future.

SpecialRed - the lead aspect is what i was worried about but the vet said as the pellets are so small the lead content is also so it shouldn't really effect him, hope that's right!!

[SpecialRed]

I own a cat and a Air rifle, I might train Barry to use it, send him round to yours vigilante style!!

The only problem with the pellet would be that there made out of Lead. 

[Mark]

Poor Jet. I can't believe these morons  are allowed to exist in society. I really think there should be a cull of the anti-social 

I hope it doesn't cause him any pain - poor baby 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Poor cat, there seems to be more and more of this and its terrible 

[jetcleo]

Thanks everyone, he's currently lying on my bed asleep - he's not normally allowed so he knows he's being spoilt cos i'm not making him get off.

Lynn - i've had him since he was a kitten, he was only at the vets in June and he didn't have it then as the vets give him a full MOT whenever i go, so its happened sometime between June and now. 

Will just be more careful from now on and definately make sure he's in at night!!

[CurlyCatz]

How long have you had him ?  Might have been before you got him unless you've had him since a baby.

Pellets are safe to leave in unless they are causing a problem, The vast majority are probably left in.

Cats although can be targets purposely by    Also get shot accidentally sometimes.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Poor thing.  I'm glad he's ok though.  There are some horrible people around 

[alisonandarchie]

Poor puss, I just cannot understand how anyone could do that. So glad he is alright.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Poor Jet 

It makes me so angry that people would deliberately harm a defenceless animal    I guess the main thing is that he is OK, he's definitely going to need lots of extra treats and cuddles though 

[blackcat]

if you can feel it under the skin, the odds are it stayed below the skin but above the muscle, pellets that travel a long way lose velocity and don't penetrate very far. If it is in that location (and from your description that sounds to be the case) then you should just monitor it. But it should not cause any probs unless your cat decides to take a trip to the continent and sets of the xray at the airport  (sorry, bad taste joke)

[jetcleo]

They said it's obviously not caused him any trouble up until now so they believe it is safe to leave but just monitor.  It's just i don't have much faith in the vet i saw yesterday (not my usual one).

Thanks anyway

[Ela]

Ela - is it ok to leave the pellet in, is it safe if it's not bothering him??

Your vet is the best person to make that decision. A lot depends where it is, some can be left  as it is thought they will not  cause futrther problems. I know we have one that has one in its head and will be removed when the cat is neutered very soon.

[jetcleo]

I know he must have been laid down for them to hit him just on his underneath.  I'm so glad he's ok and can't believe he didn't show signs of being hit like licking his tummy, he's a really home loving cat so i see him all the time.  He's a brave little soldier!

Gwen that is awful for someone to first shoot your cat but then put her in your yard that is horrible!!

Ela - is it ok to leave the pellet in, is it safe if it's not bothering him??

[Ela]

I just can't believe i never noticed it!!!

You would be surprised how many cats we take in and find a pellet somewhere.

[blackcat]

Unfortunately these days when a lad is given a gun he is not subjected to the lengthy instruction and supervision that was the case back in my youth (god I feel old!!). Also, lads in built-up areas get guns for different reasons. When they get them it makes them feel all-powerful so basically they go around and take pot-shots at anything that moves, and often does not move (beer cans, bottles etc). Even more unfortunately, cats are ideal targets from their perspective as they often sit still sunning themselves and relaxing .
Sorry to hear your babe was one of the unlucky ones, but relieved it was not a fatal or maiming shot...

[Gwen]

OMG how awful   Why do people have to be so evil?  Our first ever cat Modlen got killed by an air rifle and the sad  who did it dumped her in our yard dead

[jetcleo]

I took my cat to the vet yesterday for a check up and booster and was informed by the vet that my cat has a small believed air pellet near his tummy.  They clipped his fur and said it is not a new wound as there is a scar rather than a wound.  He hates me stroking his tummy or picking me up so that's why i've never noticed it.  They believe it is in the skin / muscle so luckily hasn't gone into any vital organs. They also said that as it hadn't bothered him / doesn't appear to bother him then they don't want to take it out unless absolutely necessary.  They know what he's been like when he's had ops before he pulls his sticthes out every time even with one of the lamp shades on!!!

I just can't believe someone would shoot a cat, i'm guessing it must have been done during the day as 98% of the time he's indoors at night but what suprises me more is that i live in a built up area - no woods nearby!!!

I just can't believe i never noticed it!!!

He's being spoilt rotten at the mo and doesn't know why!!