A FAMILY’S pet cat is recovering at home after apparently being shot with an air gun.

Tom cat Belle was taken to the Honddu Vets in Brecon on Saturday morning after falling unwell.

Owner Cheryl Clark, of Llanfaes, said she was horrified to discover an X-ray showed a pellet inside Belle.

"Belle had been horribly sick and I noticed a lump and it had been bleeding and I thought he might have been in a fight. I took him to the vet's and the X-ray showed a pellet inside him. He had been shot and it had caused a nasty infection inside him.

"It’s worrying people out there are willing to do that sort of thing."

The mum of four said she doesn’t know why anyone would shoot a cat and said she has been told of teenagers using air rifles in Brecon.

"Most psychopaths start by killing animals first, what does it lead to and why are there kids with air guns. I think it’s a worrying situation," said the 39-year-old.

"I’ve lived in Brecon all my life and I’m from a farming background. My dad had a gun and there is no way he would shoot an innocent animal."

Ms Clark said the family has had one-year-old Belle since he was a six-week-old kitten.

"He’s a very friendly cat and he would probably have gone up to the people. He does wander a bit and loves being around people.

"It could have been a lot worse, he could have died that would have been awful but he is now on the mend."

As well as being hit with a £400 veterinary bill Ms Clark said she also had to explain Belle’s injuries to her children.

"My five-year-old Oliver couldn’t believe people would do that. He asked me, ’Why have they got guns, why have they shot my cat’. He is quite worried. I didn’t want to scare him but I wanted him to know what had happened.

"My 15-year-old also struggled to understand why anyone would have a gun and shoot a cat."

PC Steve Loxton, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said it’s thought the cat had been shot sometime between Wednesday and Friday night and the shooting is being investigated as criminal damage. He said there is no information as to who may have shot the cat.

Anyone with information can contact PC Loxton at Brecon Police Station on 101.