Police are investigating claims that a cat was thrown into a pond in Dunfermline.
The 10-year-old black and white moggy, called Mitsy, has been missing since Sunday evening, when it is alleged a local youngster scaled a fence and threw her into a watercourse near Linburn Road.
Police confirmed officers are investigating a report of a cat being harmed.
Animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA described the claims as “extremely distressing”.
Worried owner Shirley Pow is clinging to hope that Mitsy is just lost and was not seriously hurt after going missing at around 7pm on Sunday.
Shirley, 55, said: “I’ve only been here a year and when she goes out she doesn’t go far.
“I was told the child took the cat up Linburn Road, and as far as I know she has never been up that side and could be lost.
“Obviously we’re all desperate to get her back because she’s a lovely cat.”
Shirley said she was “filled with horror” when she was told what might have happened to her pet.
“I was sick to the stomach,” she added.
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn from Scottish SPCA said: “It’s extremely distressing to hear reports that a child has potentially been involved in an animal cruelty incident.
“Preventing cruelty to animals is at the heart of our work and we believe we can make a huge difference by encouraging children to treat animals with the care and respect they deserve.
“We actively encourage and promote positive pet care behaviour through our ground-breaking free education programme in Scottish primary schools which last year spoke to around 300,000 children.
“Anyone with information on this incident should contact Police Scotland as soon as possible.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Fife received a report that a missing cat, last seen in the Calais View area of Dunfermline, may have been harmed on the evening of Sunday October 15 in a nearby wooded area.
“Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding this and anyone with information which can help is asked to contact Dunfermline Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 2479 of October 16.”