TWO cats have been seriously injured after being shot with an airgun in Hextable.

Both animals were targeted in separate incidents on January 10, between 8pm and midnight.

The life of one cat now hangs in the balance while the second must have a leg amputated to survive.

Claire Berwick, of Fens Way, says her cat Jazz was attacked at 8:45pm.

The 53-year-old said: “I let him out and he was outside for five minutes - somebody must have been outside where I live and they shot him.

“He came back in the house and I found him under the bed covered in blood.

“I thought he had an accident, he had blood pouring out his nose.

“I’m just really upset, I can’t put it into words - I feel so violated with it.

“He cannot eat or drink now. I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

Both cat-owners only became aware their cats had been shot after taking them to the vets for an examination.

The second cat belongs to 39 year-old mother Kym Bayley, of Plantation Road.

She left her two-year-old cat Mousetrap at home at around 8pm but found her injured when returning at midnight.

She said: “I thought she had been hit by a car as she was in severe shock.

“I was absolutely astonished it had happened at night time - who is out there shooting animals at night?

“It could be a child next.”

Call police on 01732 379289, quoting crime reference YY/937/12.