By Gary Cooper

A CAT shot by someone with an air rifle is slowly recovering at its Angus home after losing an eye.

The owners of three-year-old Missy are lavishing care—as well as tuna and mackerel—on her as they struggle to come to terms with her ordeal.

They and the community of Bowriefauld, near Letham, where they live, were sickened after the puss returned home last week with her head bloodied.

She had to undergo a delicate operation to remove her right eye and her owners have been left worrying about the pellet still lodged in her throat.

Not only are the physical scars a constant reminder of what the much-loved pet went through, her behaviour brings it home.

Owner Garry Smith said, “She has been very subdued and, as she was timid anyway, she has gone into her shell.

“She still has swelling around her throat, where the pellet is and is going to be left in the meantime, as the vets say it’s too big an operation to get it out.

“Eating has been a problem for her since she came home, although it is improving.

“At one point we had to use a syringe to get food inside her to get her appetite back.

“We’re feeding her up as best we can and giving her as much love and attention that’s possible.”

The cat was away from the Smiths’ house for a short time on Monday of last week when she was fired on.

The police are investigating the shooting.

“It is hard to believe someone can be so cruel,” Mr Smith said. “This has affected all of us.

“We’re having to be so careful around her so that we don’t creep up on Missy and alarm her.”

But Mr Smith, his wife Natalie, and daughter Alexandra (12) have been told cats are resilient creatures.

“She will adapt to losing her eye and they do seem to lead a fairly normal life after that,” Mr Smith continued. “One thing’s for sure—she will be a house cat for a while to come.”