A cat is “lucky to be alive” after being left covered in shot wounds from a firearm attack.
The animal dragged itself home to his family following the incident on Friday and underwent emergency surgery.
The owners are “devastated someone could be so cruel” as to shoot the “defenceless animal”.
X-rays from the vet clinic showed the tomcat’s body speckled with what is described as shotgun pellets.
Police Scotland is investigating following the air weapon incident in the Aberdeenshire village of Logie Coldstone.
The Deeside and Kincardine branch of charity Cats Protection Scotland shared the graphic images of the injured pet to highlight the serious attack and warn others who may be concerned.
The shot has been removed from the cat and, the charity said, would be passed on to police and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers received a report of a cat having been shot with an air weapon in the Logie Coldstone area around 11.10am on Saturday, July 3, 2021. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
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