A CAT owner is warning other animal lovers in Wheldrake to be vigilant after his pet was shot by an airgun pellet and had to be put down by a vet.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, in which the four-year-old cat, called Kitty, was shot in the leg – shattering a bone and leading to the heartbreaking decision by her owners not to have her woken from the general anaesthetic.

It is believed the wound indicated Kitty had been shot from above, possibly from an upper-storey window.

Owner Mark Bland said: “My kids are devastated. If someone is taking pot-shots at animals from their window then people need to be aware.”

Mr Bland, 45, said Kitty made it back to the garden of their home in Main Street late on Monday afternoon where she was found injured by his eldest son.

Mr Bland said: “I thought she had been clipped by a car at first.

“We took her to the vet the next morning and that’s when the pellet was discovered.

“The vet took an X-ray and found the pellet had shattered her femur in her back left leg. She was in agony.”

He said: “The vet said they would have to remove the leg, but said that it would really restrict her quality of life so we decided not to wake her up from the anaesthetic.”

The pet lived with the family and her twin sister Flo at the Blands’ home. Both animals were former rescue cats from the RSPCA.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “The cat, which is believed to have been shot with an air weapon, unfortunately had to be put down following the incident.

“Officers have been making inquiries in the area to establish who was responsible for shooting the cat and are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward.”

Anyone who can help officers is urged to phone North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be phoned anonymously on 0800 555 111.