Family cat shot with slug gun

Cats were killed every year about this time, says SPCA shelter manager Sylvia Murray. Photo / Northland Age

The killing of a beloved family cat with a slug gun has left a Westport family traumatised.

Buller SPCA shelter manager Sylvia Murray says it is the second cat killing in recent weeks. Another cat was poisoned recently and died an agonising death.

Jack Devine has a security camera image of Warrick, a two-year-old black cat, crawling through the cat door yesterday morning but being unable climb the stairs.

Mr Devine said the image would be seared into his brain forever.

He didn't know how far Warrick had run in a desperate bid to make it home, but the vet told him Warrick had suffered a broken neck and a lung was seared by the bullet.

"He was the friendliest little cat. He did not deserve to die like that," said Mr Devine.

Mr Devine was now worried for the safety of Warrick's sibling feline and another family cat.

He planned to alert police and wanted to warn other pet lovers about the cat killer.

Mrs Murray said another cat was poisoned in Luff Place in recent weeks.

It was appalling that anyone could shoot or poison a cat, but she could understand people becoming frustrated with stray tom cats fighting and urinating everywhere during mating season.

Cats were killed every year about this time, she said.

If people would desex their cats the problem wouldn't arise.

- The Westport News