A distraught mum from Moston is appealing for information after her missing cat returned home with burn injuries.
Annmarie Rouse, 39, noticed her cat, Charlie, went missing 11 days ago (around November 29).
Four-year-old Charlie was found by a woman in a shed in the Moston area.
Upon finding Charlie, the woman rushed him to the vets, where he was examined and given antibiotics.
READ MORE: Adorable dog has spent 159 days in kennels after being given up by ill owner
Charlie was returned home on Wednesday (December 8) - but now has burns on his ears, tail and paws, along with cuts on his body.
Annmarie suspects that someone or a gang of people in the Moston area have "tortured" her cat.
" I’m not OK a t the moment," explained Annmarie, speaking to the M.E.N.
"It’s really sad, what happened to Charlie. He can't walk.
"His paws are all red and raw and bleeding. He has got cuts on his side.
" He has been really badly hurt and tortured."
Charlie is now "very shaken, skinny and timid", according to Annmarie.
She has had to take Charlie back to the vets twice because the tips of his ears have fallen off.
She continued: "Charlie is not the same cat. He is very quiet. He is always sleeping.
"He is eating, but he is really in a bad way.
"If it’s kids that have done that to a cat, then, what else can they do? They wouldn’t think twice about stabbing anyone or anything like that.
"It needs sorting out. Charlie needs justice. It's very cruel, what they’ve done."
Annmarie said the ordeal has been distressing for her family.
She continued: "I’m really upset. My six-year-old son was worried when Charlie went missing.
"It’s his cat. We got Charlie when he was two years old.
“I’ve had to talk to him about Charlie’s injuries but he doesn’t really understand.
"He does understand a little bit, because his father passed away in August this year and it’s still sinking in."
The mum-of-one hopes that anyone in Moston who might have any information about Charlie's injuries could come forward.
She added: "It's horrible. I don’t know how anyone can do that to an animal.
"It’s absolutely disgusting. Someone has done that to him, or some people have done that.
"I think this happened in Moston because the lady who found him lives in Moston as well.
"When she contacted me to say she had found Charlie, she said 'it's going to be a shock to see what has happened to him'.
“I just want justice for Charlie. His attackers need to be taken to court.
"They need to go to prison or young offenders.
"Someone in Moston must know something about it. There is anti-social behaviour around here."
Annemarie also thanked the woman who found Charlie, saying: "Thank you very much for looking after Charlie, you are an angel."
Anyone with information can contact Annmarie Rouse by emailing annmarierouse2015@gmail.com .
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