A cat whose leg bones were shattered after being shot with a pellet gun had to be put down, an animal charity has revealed.
The Community Cat Network confirmed that a feral cat suffered horrific injuries after being blasted with a pellet gun near Mallow, Co Cork, earlier this month.
Jackie Graham said she thought the cat was injured by a car - until x-rays revealed that the animal had actually been shot.
Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103's Cork Today Show, Jackie said: "Staff at Cash and Carry had been feeding the cat on and off for two years.
"They thought he got the belt of a car and had injuries to his back legs. He wasn't a pet cat.
"He was a feral cat in a lot of pain. He had the injury well over a week, possibly longer.
"The vet went ahead and did x-rays. When the vet rang me, she was shocked. I was shocked.
"In the left leg, all the bones had been completely shattered. The cat had been shot."
Jackie said the cat sadly had to be put down as it would have died if left to fend for itself.
She said: "With a pet cat, you have options like keeping the cat inside or having the leg amputated.
"Feral cats are wild animals. We had to make the decision to put the cat to sleep.
"There's no way a cat can survive in the wild on three legs. You can't expect a cat to adapt to a pet situation either."
Jackie said volunteers at the Cork-based charity remain shocked at the injuries inflicted on the cat.
She said: "We're used to dealing with things but it shocked us to the core. This is the first time I've come across a cat that's been shot.
"It was deliberate and intentional. It was downright cruel.
"I don't understand the mentality of wanting to cause that kind of suffering.
"We deal with the worst of human behaviour but we also deal with the best. Without the support from the public, we wouldn't be able to do what we do."
