A pet cat is lucky to be alive after she was shot in the face with an airgun in an 'evil' attack in Fife.
Andrew Fotheringham says his tabby cat Mabel's life was saved because the metal pellet struck her tooth which prevented it from travelling into her skull. The 59-year-old train worker has condemned the "evil" attack on Wednesday August 17. Police are investigating the shocking incident in Springfield, near Cupar.
Vets operated on the cat for several hours to remove the metal ball bearing from her face.
Andrew said: "I am raging, and the vet is furious as well. I can't understand why someone would do this - who would hurt a cat?
"She's such a friendly cat and everyone in the village knows her - the school is just down the road so all the kids know her too. She just sits in the garden or goes to the field across the road.
"If someone has got a BB gun around here, with a school nearby, I'm really concerned. I've got a Jack Russell puppy but I'm worried about letting him out now."
Andrew says Mabel timidly came home on Wednesday night and immediately went to sleep. It was only the next day that he realised she had a serious injury.
He continued: "At first I thought she had just been in a fight but she wouldn't let me near her. Then I saw the pellet - it's just been horrible.
"It's such an evil act. Everyone in the village is angry. I hope the police get their hands on whoever is responsible."
Mabel was rushed to Eden Veterinary Practice in Cupar, where vets were successfully able to dislodge the pellet from her face.
Eden Veterinary Practice said Mabel had been "very lucky" to have survived the attack after the pellet lodged itself in one of her canine teeth.
A spokesperson said: "We found a pellet in her face and I think she's been very lucky that it hasn't caused more serious injuries. Mabel is sore, but she's home and doing alright.
"The tooth is broken so sadly she has lost it. Attacks like this are very rare, but very upsetting."
Causing an animal "unnecessary suffering" is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act. Police have visited Andrew to take a statement and are continuing to investigate.
A Police Scotland spokesperson: "We received a report on Thursday 18 August of a cat found injured on Tarvit Terrace, Cupar. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."
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