A sickening series of attacks on cats in an estate has left pet owners fearing for their felines.
So far two cats have been shot - one fatally - and the other was found hanging from a tree in in Hebburn, Northumbria.
Emma Lewis, 34, called her cat's abusers "sick in the head" and "disgusting" after her beloved cat, Amber, was hit in the neck with a suspected air rifle.
Both attacks took place in the Luke's Lane area, Chronicle Live reports.
Initially, Emma and her husband Michael thought their cat, Amber, had been attacked by another animal but after going to the vets they were told she'd been shot.
"There was actually and entry and exit wound. It had just missed the jugular. She must have crawled home to get to a safe place," Emma said.
"I understand some people don't like cats, that they see them as vermin - that's fine.
"But you can't go around shooting them. It is sick in the head. It is disgusting."
Emma took to Facebook to share that Amber had been shot and to warn other people in the area, but tragically has found out her cat has not been the only target.
She said: "I have been inundated with people messaging. Another woman's cat was shot and she's had to spend £1,100 at the vet.
"People need to know this happening. It is scary to think someone is going around with a gun.
"What if a kid picked a cat up just as they shot it.
"My cat is so friendly. It always follows the kids about when they are out."
Another family in the area had a similar experience after their cat was shot and hung from a tree.
Michael and Emma Clelland last saw Hunter in the early hours of Friday morning.
He didn't return, leaving the couple's sons aged 9 and 8 beside themselves, only to be discovered by neighbours.
Hunter, who the family had since he was just a few weeks old, was found hanging from a tree.
"Someone had seen my wife's Facebook post that he was missing," he said.
"They got in touch with me and said they'd found a cat across the road from me. It was no accident. He was a friendly cat and approached everybody."
