A WORDSLEY woman has told of her horror at the discovery her pet cat had been shot with a pellet gun a short distance from her home.

Sarah Oakley, of Ensall Drive, said Milly - a white and grey moggy which she took in as a stray - was "lucky to be alive" after she was found with a pellet wound last Tuesday evening (October 20) when she returned home.

She told the News: "She came back absolutely petrified. I found her cowering outside. She went straight into a corner and started shaking - and she wouldn't let me near her. I was inconsolable.

"I know she doesn't venture very far as she's very timid so it must have happened in the vicinity of this area."

She said she assumed Milly had been in a cat fight and had been bitten at first. It was only after taking her to see the vet the following day that she learned she had been shot with a .22 air gun.

The pellet "narrowly missed her chest cavity" she said - and added: "It had gone into her ribs with so much force it had moved the microchip in her neck. She was very, very lucky to be alive."

Milly had to undergo surgery to remove the pellet but she is expected to make a full recovery.

However - her worried owner is concerned whoever fired the shot may strike again.

She said: "It's just awful. They're still out there and could do it again.

"I phoned the police but they can't really do anything as no-one has seen anything, so I'm trying to make it known to as many people as I can.

"Milly's just an innocent cat. She just sits on the wall or on the fence. Why work anyone want to do this to an innocent animal?"

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything which might help us find out what happened to Milly.

"This is a very distressing incident and one which we take very seriously.

"Sadly, this is not as rare an occurrence as you would hope, as cats tend to be vulnerable to such deliberate attacks simply because they are out there in the open on their own. Under the Animal Welfare Act, if someone is caught deliberately using an air weapon to injure an animal they could face a £20,000 fine and/or six months in prison.

"We urge anyone who has any information to contact us on 0300 123 8018."