A CAT was left with "horrific" injuries after being shot three times with an air gun.

Six year-old black and white cat Sooty is lucky to be alive after a metal pellet narrowly missed his vital organs.

His owner, Charlotte Novak-Dubock found Sooty had been wounded near his home in Kingston Close in Blandford on Friday, July 15 and rushed him to the vets.

It is the third time one of her pets has been wounded in an air gun attack.

X-rays later showed the metal pellet had just missed his kidney and lung.

Her other two cats have also been wounded in previous air gun attacks in the area.

She said: "It is so upsetting to think someone would shoot at Sooty. It is really distressing and so hard to see him in pain "Sadly this is not the first time this has happened. At about this time last year Sooty came home with air gun wounds. Also, my other two cats, Tigger and Bertie, have been shot with these metal pellets in the past too and were seriously wounded on both occasions."

RSPCA officers are now appealing for anyone with information about what might have happened to Sooty to come forward.

Animal Welfare Officer Jo Blackburn said: “It is very concerning this has happened - and all to cats in the same family.

“Poor Sooty has now been shot three times and the two other cats from the same home also have historic air gun wounds.

“It is so upsetting for owners when they see their pets in pain. Poor Sooty had such a near miss. In this latest attack the metal pellet skimmed his kidney and has narrowly missed his lung.

“Thankfully vets have been able to save Sooty - but it could’ve been so different. The injuries caused in cases like Sooty’s are horrific “It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals. These are deliberate and callous acts of cruelty and we would appeal to people’s consciences not to commit these offences.

"We and the police are investigating this matter and we would like to remind people that the penalties faced if caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can be up to six months in prison and/or a £20,000 fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.”

Anyone with information about what happened to Sooty is urged to contact the RSPCA hotline in confidence on 0300 123 8018 or Dorset Police on 101.