Police investigate after two cats in Kingussie found to be shot with crossbows

Two cats have been shot by crossbows in the Highlands prompting a police appeal for information.

The incidents happened in the Kingussie area between Monday, July 18, and Friday, July 22 in the Kerrow Drive area when the animals’ owners found the cats with serious injuries caused by a crossbow bolt.

One of the cats survived following treatment from a vet, but the other died.

Nuke, an 11-year-old tabby, miraculously survived after the bolt was lodged into his neck and into his body.

The cat had been missing for three days before returning home.

Owner, Jack McLean told STV News that when he saw Nuke with the bolt in his neck he believed it was “probably going to be the end”.

He said: “At first I looked at it and the angle it had gone in and thought it might just have pierced his skin, but I thought if it isn’t it’s probably going to be the end.

“It was a heartbreaking drive over to the vet, which is 45 minutes away on a not busy day, but we got him to the vet and an hour was spent getting him x-rays. I couldn’t believe the pictures, they were insane.”

Nuke miraculously survived the surgery at Grantown vets

The bolt had pierced around nine inches between Nuke’s neck and shoulder and had lodged into his body, missing any of his organs.

The family had the choice to take Nuke to a specialist in Glasgow, more than a two hour drive away, for a CAT scan, or have him undergo surgery at the vets in Grantown immediately.

Mr McLean said: “I thought, he’s done blooming well, I didn’t want to drive him to Glasgow for him to be on death’s door so I opted to have the removal there. I didn’t think he was going to make it through.”

The surgery was a success and Mr McLean received a call on Friday evening to say Nuke was alright and at the vets eating chicken.

Now, Nuke is at home recovering ahead of his check up in a few days time.

However, another Kingussie resident unfortunately found his cat Theo, also to be shot with a crossbow.

Posting on Facebook on Saturday evening, Aidan Bruce explained: “Yesterday when I came home from work I found my cat Theo with a crossbow bolt in his chest laying on his bed.

“My brother and I rushed him to the Grantown vets but upon removal of the bolt Theo passed away…the police have been informed.”

In an appeal for witnesses or anyone with information on Sunday, Sergeant Craig McGhee said: “We are eager to trace whoever was responsible for these attacks and I am appealing to members of the local community to assist us with identifying those involved.

“If anyone saw anything suspicious around the time of this incident or has information that could help with our ongoing enquiries then please get in touch.

“You can contact officers via 101, quoting incident number 2421 of Friday, July 22, 2022, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”