Tabby cat has miracle escape after being shot in the back

The RSPCA is asking for help to find the person involved, who it believes probably objected to the cat - called Slim Shady - being in their garden.

She was found in her home in Kipling Road, Eastleigh, in the evening of October 4 with blood on her back.

The three-year-old was taken to the vet, who found that a 1.71 calibre pellet - probably from an air pistol - was lodged in her spine.

She also had an enlarged kidney but following an operation is set to make a full recovery.

Her owner Dawn Morgan, 33, said: ‘We didn’t realise what had happened at first to our Slim Shady.

‘She had blood coming from the wound on her back, but it didn’t occur to me that she had been shot until the X-ray showed the pellet and the enlarged kidney.

RSPCA inspector Penny Baker added: ‘Slim Shady was lucky to survive - the shot missed her spine by mere millimetres.

‘This bullet went into her back, and then grazed her kidney.

‘Whoever shot her must have done so deliberately - taking aim.’

Anyone with information an leave a message for Inspector Baker by calling 030 123 8018.