A CAT belonging to a Rhyl family is lucky to be alive after being shot through the eye.
Felix had an emergency operation after it returned to its home with blood streaming from its eye.
Mother of two Emma Todd took 10 month-old Felix to the Dyserth-based Pet Rescue Welfare Association where he had the lifesaving operation.
Ms Todd, whose children Caitlyn-Anne, nine, and Alec Declan, six, were devastated by the incident, said: “The vet said she didn’t know how he isn’t brain damaged as the thing went straight through his head. He has lost his eye.”
“The kids are gutted. He’s their cat really. My daughter fainted when we took the patch off because there’s just nothing there.”
She said the children had been profoundly affected by what had happened to their pet.
“They’re more protective of the other four cats and they’re afraid that they won’t come back when they go out.”
This is the second time in a month that a cat has been shot in the head.
That shooting was in Kinmel Bay and Ms Todd said: “Felix doesn’t go far so it must be several different people doing this. It sounds horrible, but I’m worried that it might be a kid next.”
According to the vet, the shooting must have been at close range and the shot used was bigger and flatter than the typical small domed pellet.
Ms Todd said: “I think it’s absolutely disgusting. It isn’t acceptable to go round hunting cats. Cats are not an animal for hunting. They are domesticated.
Felix is part of the family and the kids cried all week.”
The cost of the operation came to more than £180 and Ms Todd said she was thankful to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
She said: “The RSPCA helped me out with the vets bills as there was nothing else they could do. I’m lucky that they could help.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said wild birds and cats made easy targets for people with guns.
She said: “Sometimes it’s not clear from looking at the animal whether it has been shot and quite often even the vet won’t know for sure until the animal has been X-rayed.
“If you find an animal and you suspect it has been shot then contact the RSPCA or, if you have transport, take the animal to the vets as soon as you can.
“It’s also important to report if you witness an incident.”