Sixteen-year-old cat Lilly suffered concussion and some cuts in the attack. Photo / Supplied
WARNING: Disturbing content
Residents of a quiet Whanganui street are in a state of shock after a family cat was picked up and swung around by its tail before being thrown to the road.
Sixteen-year-old cat Lilly was concussed in the attack on Tuesday evening which was caught on CCTV.
Both the police and SPCA have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The CCTV footage shows two people walking down a Whanganui East street around 6.30pm.
Joint-owner Felicity Simmons said she discovered the cat had been injured after a call from a concerned neighbour.
"The cat's 16 and a half, but she's started spending a lot of time next door. We sort of share the cat," Simmons said.
"Around 7pm we got a call saying it looked like Lilly had been hit by a car. I went over there and she was drooling with her tongue out and eyes dilated, with cuts and blood all over her face."
Simmons then looked back at the CCTV footage.
"She ended up in the middle of the road and the video cuts out. She must have crawled home eventually."
Simmons said she had no idea why the cat was attacked.
"She's just a little old, elderly skinny cat. It's gross."
Simmons' neighbour Natasha, who did not want her last name published, said the biggest concern was the pair appeared to be young.
"It concerns me that a child thinks this behaviour okay," Natasha said.
Natasha said the majority of the street were now aware of the incident and she had received messages from other neighbours.