Pet cat Freddy shot with air rifle in Borrowash area in 'extremely upsetting' incident

RSPCA appeals after cat shot in Borrowash

A black and white cat from Borrowash is back home after surgery to remove an air rifle pellet lodged next to his spine. The RSPCA is appealing for information after Freddy went missing on August 13 and returned on August 18, when his owners discovered he had been shot.

Several BB gun pellets were found outside Freddy's home. The incident is believed to have happened near Priors Barn Close or Conway Avenue. The RSPCA wants to hear from anyone with CCTV, doorbell footage, or any other information that might help establish what happened.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Lucy Kingsley said: “This must have been extremely upsetting for Freddy’s owner and it is heart breaking to think of what Freddy must have gone through during those five days that he was missing. “We are keen to establish exactly what happened to Freddy and where he was when he was injured.”

Officers are particularly interested in anyone who was in the Priors Barn Close or Conway Avenue area between August 13 and 18, and urge witnesses to call the Inspectorate Appeal Line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident 01883678.

Second cat attack

In a separate incident, a cat named Rosie from Whitchurch-on-Thames in Oxfordshire was found injured on August 16 after being shot with an air weapon. Rosie's owner had seen her healthy at breakfast time, but she returned at midday staggering. X-rays revealed a pellet lodged in her neck, which was later removed successfully. RSPCA Inspector Kirsten Ormerod is also appealing for information, with incident number 01884707.

Expert reaction

Katie Wilkinson, holistic cat expert and founder of The Kat Lady, called for tougher action against animal cruelty, describing the attacks as “deeply disturbing” and saying that deliberately harming a cat is an act that should be treated with the utmost seriousness. She added: “Anyone capable of inflicting this kind of pain on a defenceless animal must be held fully accountable.”

Rise in cruelty calls

The RSPCA released figures showing a 64% increase in summer cruelty calls over five years. In June, July, and August of last year, the charity received 6,322 cruelty calls—an average of one call every 10 minutes—compared to 3,852 calls for the same period in 2021.