A CAT owner has been left shocked and angered after her pet was shot with an air rifle.

Jennifer Weir's two-year-old kitty Tyson returned home to Gray's Lane in Downley still with the pellets from the weapon lodged in him.

Tyson had to have an operation at the vet's after being shot above his left rear leg and in the hip area.

He's now recovering at home but Mrs Weir said her family are still coming to terms with the incident.

She said: "It was definitely a shock. My daughter's been in tears. I'm more angry than anything else.

"I have two cats and I want to let them out, but I'm terrified if they do it to the older one.

"I've no idea who did it, and it's not as if I can knock on everyone's door asking if they've got an air gun. Nobody's going to own up to it."

Mrs Weir only discovered Tyson had been shot by chance after noticing his wounds while stroking him.

She said: "He was on my lap and I noticed this lump. At first I thought it was a prick from a plant but I found a pellet."

The incident has been reported to the police and the RSPCA. The pellet which was removed from Tyson's body is being kept as evidence as part of the investigation.