A BLACK and white cat is recovering after being shot by an air rifle in the Watton area.

A BLACK and white cat is recovering after being shot by an air rifle in the Watton area.

Rascal the cat's owner Donna Traill, from Carbrooke, has spoken of her anger about what happened to her three-year-old pet - and her family are offering a �500 reward for information that leads to the prosecution of the person responsible for harming Rascal.

Miss Traill, 22 and who works for Tesco in Dereham, said Rascal was found hiding under a bed at her Caston Road home on Sunday, October 4.

He was bleeding and Miss Traill quickly took him to the vets where, after being examined under anaesthetic and by x-ray, he was found to have an air rifle pellet lodged in his shoulder. The pellet caused him to develop problems with his breathing because it had come close to his windpipe.

Miss Traill, who has had to pay nearly �500 in vets bills, said: 'I have had Rascal since he was eight-weeks-old and it makes me so angry that someone could be that cruel and heartless to do that to someone's pet.

'The vets decided to leave the bullet where it was because it won't move anywhere else and because they did not want to put Rascal under any more stress.'

It is believed that Rascal was facing whoever shot him with an air rifle because he has a graze on his chin from the bullet.

Miss Traill said Rascal, who had to have stitches, was normally a bubbly and affectionate cat but that now he was a lot more nervous.

She said she was now worried about letting him go outside because of what happened.

Rascal is believed to have been targeted sometime between 11pm on Saturday, October 3 and 7.45am on Sunday, October 4.

Anybody with information about what happened to Rascal should call PC Hayley Harwood at Watton Police Station on 0845 4564567.