Cat put down after pellet gun attack

File photo / Sarah Ivey

The SPCA is appealing to the public to help catch sick attackers who shot a pet cat with air gun resulting in it having to be put down.

Rotorua woman Jeanne Boyd said her neighbour called her after finding her male tabby, 12-year-old Edwina, lying on her lawn on Thursday night.

He had been shot in the spine, his spine shattered, and left for dead.

As Mrs Boyd tried to put Edwina in a carry case, he suffered an asthma attack.

The cat had now been put down and the SPCA has now launched an investigating urging anyone with information to contact its office, The Daily Post reported.

"It's horrendous. If we can find the weapon we may be able to match it up forensically," Rotorua SPCA inspector Andy Hope said.

The pellet had been retrieved.

Wilful ill-treatment of an animal carries a maximum jail term of five years and/or a $100,000 fine.

- NZPA