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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

My cat has been shot.

81 replies

PeopleAreTheWorst · 06/12/2022 15:43

Two weeks ago we lost our beloved pooch at just ten years old.
A week later our one year old cat was quiet and had scabs on her head in front of wither ear. I had some antibiotics left over from the dog so I checked weights etc and started her on these thinking she had been in a cat fight.
She's been eating like a horse (normal) drinking normally and still jumping onto beds, windowsills etc.
I was in work overnight and Dh text me asking if cats can self harm as she had been in all night but her sore looked open and sore again and there was scanned fur on her bed.
When I got in this morning I gave her a really thorough check (I had done a quick one after the 'fight')
I felt a lump which I thought was maybe a scab but on closer inspection it was metal and firmly stuck. At this point she was getting very cross so I let her go. (She's a very independent cat who isn't cuddly at all )
I sent a message to our vet who got her in first thing. I had to sleep to Dh took her and they have agreed it's a pellet and because we couldn't guarantee she hadn't eaten overnight they've booked her in for the morning to be anaesthetised, x-rayed and the pellet removed. She's been given steroids and antibiotics.
She's fine in herself so hopefully it's just this one and there are no others. They also think the head trauma might be stress related and have advised something like rescue remedy so I need to research that too.
I'm so angry that my sweet girl has been hurt like this on purpose.
What is wrong with some people 🤬

OP posts:
Avrenim · 07/12/2022 17:10

We moved recently and our affectionate little boy was shot in the tail (we're pretty sure it was b*stard Bonfire Night, when we got him to the vet there were no pellets but the entry and exit wounds were pretty clear- I live with a nurse who trained in South Africa and saw plenty of gunshot wounds - and antibiotics worked on this young fit cat but I know where I'd like to stick the airgun...

Wolfiefan · 07/12/2022 17:13

This happened to a cat we had when I was a child. She was fine. But it was awful. My mum initially thought she had been stung by a bee or something.
Happy to join the lynch squad. Some people are bastards.

Snowingcatsaround · 07/12/2022 17:31

A very similar happened to my mums cat some years ago.
My mum was in her own garden, which opens to into mount hill with trees, fields etc.
She was picking up some strawberries and her cat, he was literally still kitten, about a year old, was bouncing next to her near her feet.
Suddenly he just flew into air and landed dead next to her.
She was shocked and realised he was shot dead in the front of her eyes.
Apparently a group of young teens were shooting in the mountains hill behind the garden area just for fun, they apparently thought the cat was a fox!
He was a dark grey cat, not ginger.
My mum took the bloke who shot the cat to the court as she absolutely horrified and imagine they could shot anyone really as shooting in residential area, however as he was a local Mayors son, they swept it all under carpet. So my mum lost.
It was terrible, he was a such loving little kitty.

Clarich007 · 07/12/2022 19:21

Bastards!!
Your beautiful girl. I'm glad she came through it we It's shocking to see the pellet. How can someone be so cruel. I'm ashamed to be human. Hope Karma catches up with them. Feel like shooting them myself. 💐

Clarich007 · 07/12/2022 19:22

Were the Police helpful?

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 08/12/2022 00:29

Clarich007 · 07/12/2022 19:22

Were the Police helpful?

I haven't managed to report it yet as dd2 had a school thing on last night. I'll be ringing after the school run in the momrinh x

OP posts:
Pelo2022 · 08/12/2022 01:04

Mine is ready to act as back up. He only has one tooth but says he is prepared to use his claws
I thought his grouchy face might give you a smile (the neighbours water feature has frozen so it’s the worst day of his life, having to drink out a bowl)

My cat has been shot.
Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 08/12/2022 07:20

Pelo2022 · 08/12/2022 01:04

Mine is ready to act as back up. He only has one tooth but says he is prepared to use his claws
I thought his grouchy face might give you a smile (the neighbours water feature has frozen so it’s the worst day of his life, having to drink out a bowl)

Ah he's so cute but I feel like I'm being judged for something 😂

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 08/12/2022 07:26

It's a BB gun pellet a type of gun that you don't need a licence for and can own from the age of 13.
Surprisingly common in small animal veterinary practice I see probably one case a year.
Sadly shorting the cat is not the offence the ammunition exiting the gun owners property is. I am currently an expert witness in a similar case.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 06:10

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/12/2022 07:26

It's a BB gun pellet a type of gun that you don't need a licence for and can own from the age of 13.
Surprisingly common in small animal veterinary practice I see probably one case a year.
Sadly shorting the cat is not the offence the ammunition exiting the gun owners property is. I am currently an expert witness in a similar case.

Aren't BB gun pellets round?
That's shocking. I'm sorry you have to do that.

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 09/12/2022 09:17

Looks like an air rifle pellet to me - had one when I was younger. From the size slightly more likely to be a .177 rather than a .22 but can't be sure.

BB pellets are round, air gun pellets have the "waist" and usually grooves on the "tail" part - these all improve the aerodynamics.

BBs popular because they get called toys, also you can load masses into a hopper & just shoot them. Air guns you can only load one pellet at a time into the breech.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 09:54

Allergictoironing · 09/12/2022 09:17

Looks like an air rifle pellet to me - had one when I was younger. From the size slightly more likely to be a .177 rather than a .22 but can't be sure.

BB pellets are round, air gun pellets have the "waist" and usually grooves on the "tail" part - these all improve the aerodynamics.

BBs popular because they get called toys, also you can load masses into a hopper & just shoot them. Air guns you can only load one pellet at a time into the breech.

Thank you. That's what I thought. (Not the calibre, I haven't a clue about that)

OP posts:
AliensToTheLeft · 09/12/2022 16:01

Just wondering how shes doing today OP? Hope she’s ok.

POTC · 09/12/2022 16:10

PeopleAreTheWorst · 08/12/2022 00:29

I haven't managed to report it yet as dd2 had a school thing on last night. I'll be ringing after the school run in the momrinh x

Show quote history

You can also report through the website of your local police force if that's easier

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 16:32

AliensToTheLeft · 09/12/2022 16:01

Just wondering how shes doing today OP? Hope she’s ok.

She's pretty much back to normal physically. Despite the stitches and my trying to keep her calm she's back to jumping on everything!
Mentally she's a bit skittish and quiet so we are just taking it slow and calm with her.

OP posts:
Mirrorcell · 09/12/2022 16:45

I think it’s worth posting on social media and asking people to share. Someone may have an idea who is doing this and people will be more vigilant. It would make me keep an eye out.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 17:08

Mirrorcell · 09/12/2022 16:45

I think it’s worth posting on social media and asking people to share. Someone may have an idea who is doing this and people will be more vigilant. It would make me keep an eye out.

I've put it on the towns fb page and the neighbour page I'm on. I know it's been shared on other private neighbour pages too.

OP posts:
AliensToTheLeft · 09/12/2022 18:19

PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 16:32

She's pretty much back to normal physically. Despite the stitches and my trying to keep her calm she's back to jumping on everything!
Mentally she's a bit skittish and quiet so we are just taking it slow and calm with her.

Show quote history

Poor baby. Glad to hear she’s recovering well physically though. Totally impossible to keep a determined cat calm so good luck with that. 😬

It will maybe take her a while to get more confident again, she’s been through a lot, getting shot, no doubt feeling rubbish with the pellet in her head and then the operation. Quite the ordeal for one little cat.

🐾

bloodyeverlastinghell · 09/12/2022 18:23

ShoddyCustomerCare · 06/12/2022 16:06

I know it is completely absurd but I sometimes feel that if I knew about someone intentionally doing harm to any animal, my pet or otherwise, I would batter utter fuck out them.

Absurd I know, but God it makes my blood boil.

Your poor baby, hope she comes through op OK. Hope it was an accident.

Apart from the ones most of us are eating? Or do you randomly batter non veggies/vegans

DingDangMintyBells · 09/12/2022 18:56

@bloodyeverlastinghell I would hope the animals I eat were killed cleanly and not left to limp home with a bullet half in their heads.

ShoddyCustomerCare · 09/12/2022 19:14

Yes exactly. It's the difference between killing humanely to eat and shooting to cause distress that defines who would get a battering or not. Farmers who kindly raise our livestock to feed the nation - heroes. Bampots with an air rifle shooting small animals and pets for the fun of it - cretins.

You know you can be a vegetarian without foisting your own views on meat eaters, yes? Especially when the conversation is about harming pets, not human diet.

AliensToTheLeft · 09/12/2022 19:18

ShoddyCustomerCare · 09/12/2022 19:14

Yes exactly. It's the difference between killing humanely to eat and shooting to cause distress that defines who would get a battering or not. Farmers who kindly raise our livestock to feed the nation - heroes. Bampots with an air rifle shooting small animals and pets for the fun of it - cretins.

You know you can be a vegetarian without foisting your own views on meat eaters, yes? Especially when the conversation is about harming pets, not human diet.

I wouldn’t call them heroes, they’re part of animal cruelty. But this isn’t the thread for it. 😉

ShoddyCustomerCare · 09/12/2022 19:24

Each to their own

DingDangMintyBells · 09/12/2022 19:45

Farmers who raise livestock care deeply for their well-being. Why else would they be up at dawn working till after dark to feed, water and care for them. Unless you’ve done that job you have no right to judge.

AliensToTheLeft · 09/12/2022 19:49

DingDangMintyBells · 09/12/2022 19:45

Farmers who raise livestock care deeply for their well-being. Why else would they be up at dawn working till after dark to feed, water and care for them. Unless you’ve done that job you have no right to judge.

Start a thread, we can discuss.

This is about the poor OPs cat who has been shot.