Calne police are looking for the person who shot a four-year-old ginger cat called Poppy with an airgun pellet late on March 29 in the Wessington Park area.

Poppy’s owner Elizabeth Hemmings, 29, of Church Close, who reported the incident to police , said she had to have an operation to have the pellet removed.

Ms Hemmings said: “She came home and I found a lump in her leg. The pellet was just under the skin.

"She’s incredibly lucky that she didn’t break her leg. I couldn’t believe that someone would shoot her.

“Whether it was kids messing about I don’t know, but I was just a bit concerned that someone would actually do that.”

Calne PCSO Mark Cook said police had also picked up on a recent Facebook post from a cat owner complaining their pet’s head had been shaved.

He said: “This is a really shocking and cruel act for anyone to do to a small animal. We’re keen for anyone with any information in regards to this incident to call us.

To contact the police call 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously..