A PET cat has had to have its eye surgically removed after it was injured.

The cat, Effie was injured after being shot with an air rifle near Minden Close in Chineham.

Effie’s owner, Paul, said that this is not the first time that his cats have been targeted by people with air rifles, and that all three of his cats have been injured, and that his other cats, Louis and Rosie, have also sustained injuries.

The 33-year-old said: “This has been an issue for the last month.

“We moved to the area last November, and it seems as though someone is targeting my cats."

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Paul has since reported the incident to both the police and the RSPCA.

He continued: “I just want to make sure that people know that it’s happening and see that they catch the person who is doing it, or they stop.

“It’s not right, and I want to make other pet owners in the area aware that someone is going around shooting cats.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “It is really upsetting to hear about this poor cat, and we hope they recover soon.

“Every year the RSPCA receives almost 1,000 calls to investigate cases and help hundreds of animals that are defenceless victims of air gun attacks.

“It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals. These are deliberate and brutal acts of cruelty.

“We are calling for tighter controls on air weapons. This, along with better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun, and requirements that everyone must receive basic safety training before being allowed to walk out of the shop could help relieve the problem.”

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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the police said: “We were called on Thursday, August 25 to a report that a number of pellets, believed to have been fired from an air rifle, had been discovered under the skin of three cats.

“The incident is believed to have taken place between Sunday, August 21 and Thursday, August 25 in or around Minden Close, Chineham.

“Officers have launched an investigation.

“Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call 101, quoting 44220345831.

“Alternatively, you can submit information to us online via this link hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/.”