A COUPLE whose tabby cat was shot by an air rifle are warning pet owners to be on their guard.

Seven-year-old Oscar was found by Pete and Linda Canning's neighbours in a distressed state just three doors from their home in the Castle Road area of Salisbury on Friday.

Suspecting he had been hit by a vehicle the couple took him to a vet for x-rays which showed he had been shot by an air rifle and had a pellet lodged near his spine.

Linda said: "Oscar was just a few yards from home in a built-up residential area of Salisbury so whoever did this to him was completely irresponsible to say the least. If my cat was targeted deliberately then it is an act of downright cruelty.

"I would like to warn local pet owners to be on their guard as unless this person is stopped their animals may be at risk.

"I would urge anyone who has experienced anything similar to report it, in the hope that whoever has done this can be caught and prevent any more animals suffering."

Oscar is currently in recovery at a veterinary hospital near Bristol having undergone surgery to remove the pellet and fragments of bone from his vertebrae.

It is looking hopeful he will regain the use of his back legs but it is uncertain whether he will regain the use of his bladder.

Linda said: "He was crying out in pain, he had dragged himself along the ground using his front legs as he had lost the use of his back legs and his back claws were shredded as a result.

"We don't know where it happened but if somebody does know something, we hope they see what they have done and they think twice about doing it again."

The incident has been reported to both the police and the RSPCA.