Page 3 | Someone shot my cat yesterday

moggerhanger · 2025-12-22T08:05:31+00:00

I just want to vent really! Yesterday, our cat came home limping and bleeding - after being rushed to the out-of-hours vets, they told us he has an airgun pellet in his hip. He's probably going to be OK but it's still early days. We live in a small village, and know a lot of the neighbours. So it's a horrible feeling to think that one of them is so cruel and nasty. We've reported to the police but I doubt they'll be able (or inclined) to do much. I'm also asking around the neighbours I know to find out if they're aware of anyone trigger-happy with an airgun. Feel like I should warn other cat owners too. I'm so angry and upset!

OccasionalHope · 25/12/2025 10:05

All the best to you and DCat. Some people really are awful.

Original poster

moggerhanger · 26/12/2025 23:23

MiloMann · 25/12/2025 10:03

We shoot, our guns are licenced, only use on approved ranges or training grounds. Ignorant buggers like that one get us all a bad name and more restrictions. A permitted low power air rifle does not have the power to stop a cat sized animal. Basic information everyone should know.
Hope the pet improves.

Indeed, I'm assuming the shooter did it simply to maim and cause injury. Filth that they are.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2025 23:33

Poor boy and hope he recovers quickly without too much trauma ( all round)

Our old girl had a pellet at the base of her tail , a centimetre down would've shattered her spine . ( This occurred before she came to us )

I know some people don't like cats and I can imagine someone with a gun wants a target .
But to shoot an innocent animal ? Makes me feel sick

Iwantamarshmallowman · 27/12/2025 12:42

If the cone of shame isnt working you can buy a little jumpsuit that will stop him licking the stitches.

Original poster

moggerhanger · 27/12/2025 16:00

Iwantamarshmallowman · 27/12/2025 12:42

If the cone of shame isnt working you can buy a little jumpsuit that will stop him licking the stitches.

I've wondered about that! Saw them advertised on a poster at the vets. Though I suspect he'd be an arse about wearing a suit too. He only has to wear the cone another week, so I think we'll grit our teeth for a bit longer. We've bought a softer cone to try as well.

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cucumberpeach · 27/12/2025 16:04

Oh my god, that's awful, I'm so sorry. Poor kitty :( May karma come for those people.

Woweehooha · 27/12/2025 20:24

I’m so sorry for your lovely cat @moggerhanger
A few months before my beautiful cat sadly died from cancer he had to wear a cone after an op to remove lumps. He found the soft one a lot more comfortable so hopefully it works for your boy too.

Original poster

moggerhanger · 28/12/2025 21:08

Oh dear goddess, the guffs my poor old boy is letting out! They're enough to crinkle paint. I blame the antibiotics.

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Paul2023 · 28/12/2025 21:23

I hate being a killjoy but why can’t pellet guns be banned ? Why do we legally let people buy pellet guns?

I remember driving a bus about 8 years ago , and in the dark some kids ( I presume ) shot out 3 of my windows. The area mainly hit was where mothers with push chairs would stand. Luckily itv was late and no one was there. It shook me up a bit

Original poster

moggerhanger · 28/12/2025 22:33

@Paul2023 good question. I've fired them on ranges before now, and enjoyed it (I'm quite a good shot). But I think I'll struggle to feel the same way now.

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MissMoneyFairy · 29/12/2025 08:14

Paul2023 · 28/12/2025 21:23

I hate being a killjoy but why can’t pellet guns be banned ? Why do we legally let people buy pellet guns?

I remember driving a bus about 8 years ago , and in the dark some kids ( I presume ) shot out 3 of my windows. The area mainly hit was where mothers with push chairs would stand. Luckily itv was late and no one was there. It shook me up a bit

You're not a killjoy at all, they are completely pointless and unnecessary

Craftysue · 29/12/2025 08:29

My daughter's friend's cat lost his leg a couple of months ago after someone shot her - the police have been really good here but there have been a few incidents in the area. I'm not a cat lover but I hate any animal cruelty and I hope your cat makes a full recovery

cucumberpeach · 29/12/2025 19:05

I'll never understand the sick and despicable people who do things like this. I have all my fingers crossed for your cat. Hopefully he'll be home soon and right as rain

Original poster

moggerhanger · 29/12/2025 19:09

Craftysue · 29/12/2025 08:29

My daughter's friend's cat lost his leg a couple of months ago after someone shot her - the police have been really good here but there have been a few incidents in the area. I'm not a cat lover but I hate any animal cruelty and I hope your cat makes a full recovery

Sadly neither the police nor RSPCA are interested at all. Not sure how far we're able to investigate ourselves, short of banging on every door and asking "do you shoot cats?" Unlikely to get a truthful answer!

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ParsnipPies · 29/12/2025 19:11

Two of my cats have pellets in and a neighbour’s cat was killed. We know which neighbour is responsible and when the cat died there was some evidence but the police weren’t interested. Unfortunately cats are treated as wild animals in law which is why we are allowed to let them roam. Double edged sword.
I wish your gorgeous moggy a swift recovery and you all the strength you need to look after him.

Original poster

moggerhanger · 29/12/2025 19:40

ParsnipPies · 29/12/2025 19:11

Two of my cats have pellets in and a neighbour’s cat was killed. We know which neighbour is responsible and when the cat died there was some evidence but the police weren’t interested. Unfortunately cats are treated as wild animals in law which is why we are allowed to let them roam. Double edged sword.
I wish your gorgeous moggy a swift recovery and you all the strength you need to look after him.

Awful! It's a criminal offence with a custodial sentence of up to 5 years, so I'm baffled that the police aren't interested.

How do you manage your cats now? Are they indoor only or do you still let them out? We have two, both are used to being in/out cats. But at the moment we're only letting the other one out when it's dark, knowing that the risk of RTA is higher but hopefully the risk of being shot is lower.

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ParsnipPies · 29/12/2025 19:44

They come and go as they please. They do now tend to leave our garden in the opposite direction so hope they will be ok.

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/12/2025 19:50

What an awful thing to do. I agree with spreading it on social media. Some arsehole shot two swans near me and it was all over SM. I'm not aware of the culprit being found but there was 100% condemnation online and they must have seen it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/12/2025 20:12

moggerhanger · 28/12/2025 21:08

Oh dear goddess, the guffs my poor old boy is letting out! They're enough to crinkle paint. I blame the antibiotics.

Awww poor lad. He's probably bored, bit annoyed by the Cone of Shame and feeling tender .
Wondering does my bum still work? will be the height of entertainment for him !

Original poster

moggerhanger · 29/12/2025 20:16

@70isaLimitNotaTarget he's definitely bored! We're playing gently with him but he can't be allowed to get too bouncy. (We tried one of those YouTube Cat TV channels - all went well until our other cat spotted an on-screen gopher and launched his fat arse at it, knocking the TV over!) Sedatives are helping but obviously we can't just trank him for the next 5 weeks.

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CalzoneOnLegs · 29/12/2025 20:17

So sorry OP I hope your cat is OK, he’s beautiful ❤️ we had this happen years ago, probably 40 years ago. Cat was okay once the vet removed the pellet.

Yellowingtrees · 29/12/2025 20:19

When I was a baby my mum put me out in the garden in my pram. I was squeaking and she heard some bangs so she went out, and heard some kids a few doors down and one said ‘stop that, that’s a baby not a cat’. They’d been trying to shoot me through the hedge…
I thought this sort of horror had stopped a LONG time ago…

DoAWheelie · 29/12/2025 20:26

moggerhanger · 25/12/2025 09:17

He's home from surgery. Confined to a dog crate for the next 6 weeks, on a ton of medication. And isn't it all pill form, which is a bloody nightmare to get down him! He's already managed to get a front leg stuck through the cone of shame. It's going to be a loooong 6 weeks.

I feel so exhausted, nauseous and disorientated, am dreading cooking the dinner later. Just want to stay in bed! I'm actually quite shocked/embarrassed at how physically rubbish I'm feeling. But this is a poo cherry on the cake of poo we've already had served to us in 2025, so that might be partly why I'm knocked a bit sideways.

Check with the vet first that it's ok - but I've had great success with crushing pills and mixing them through a tube of lick-e-lix in a bowl.

DCat3 was very upset when his 3x a day antibiotics and pain meds stopped after an abscess treatment as he was enjoying it so much.

NotDarkGothicMama · 29/12/2025 20:32

Our cat-specialist vet doesn't support using cones or bodysuits unless the cat is constantly licking/biting at the wound. Since using this vet, I've not had to use a cone on any of the 6 cats. It might be worth taking the cone off if he's stressed about wearing it.

Original poster

moggerhanger · 29/12/2025 21:04

@NotDarkGothicMama we've obtained a softer cone that he's a lot happier wearing. Plus we give him periods without it at all. But he's a bugger for nibbling at the operation site, and as he has pins/wires we have to be scrupulously careful about infection.

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