11 hours ago
'I'm concerned there's someone out there - there are a lot of missing cats'
A cat owner says she has been left terrified after two of her pets were shot with an air rifle. Leigh Rollison became concerned when she noticed rescue Candy began 'acting really odd'.
She then noticed a small wound and took the animal to vet Sinéad Bennett, who recognised the type of injury from a previous case. It was then confirmed there was a pellet lodged in Candy's body, millimetres from the spine.
Fortunately, the nine-month-old is recovering. Insurance worker Leigh, 40, said she saw a similar wound on two-year-old pet Molly.
Another X-ray confirmed the presence of an air rifle pellet. Leigh, from Winton, Salford said: "I don't understand it. I thought the first one might be a child in the garden by accident.
"I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I really am concerned now there's someone out there. There's a lot of missing cats around my area, I'm worried they're the unlucky ones.
"We found our nine-month-old rescue kitten Candy in the morning and she was acting really odd. That pellet had gone to within millimetres of her spine, she was very nearly paralysed. She probably wouldn't have been able to get home.
"Molly was probably hit first but she didn't show any signs because she's tough as old boots." Leigh, who has seven rescue cats, added: "I'm frightened... we don't know how to keep them safe.
"What if someone has got a cat and they don't realise it's a pellet wound? We don't know who's doing this."
Vet Sinéad said: "It's unthinkable that someone could deliberately harm such gentle and well-cared-for animals. We're deeply shocked but grateful we were able to help. The cats' owners are truly devoted and attentive people. These cats are their family.'
MCR Vets sai in a statement: "In a previous case seen by Sinéad a few years ago, a cat that had been shot went missing for seven days before its devastated owners found it collapsed under a hedge.
"The pellet had ruptured its intestines, causing widespread damage. By the time the cat was brought in, much of the bowel was no longer salvageable.
"The surgery was extensive and life-saving, but the outcome could have been tragically different. Without intervention, the cat would have endured a slow and extremely painful death."
The incidents have been reported to Greater Manchester Police. The Manchester Evening News has contacted the force for comment.
