Marmie recovering after being shot

THIS traumatised cat was counting his remaining lives as he recovered from appalling injuries inflicted by a cruel yob who blasted him at point blank range with an air rifle.

Vets first thought 11-month-old ginger and white cat Marmie had been hit by a car due to the extent of his injuries.

Marmie poses with the Penmellyn Veterinary team who are caring for him after his operation
X-rays showed that a single pellet had torn through both of Marmie's legs, his abdomen, groin and liver. Above right, the shot pellet is recovered from his injured body. Right, surgeons operate

Both his legs had been shattered and he had serious abdominal injuries when he was found curled up in agony in Delabole, near Camelford in Cornwall.

But X-rays revealed Marmie had been shot in such a way that a single pellet tore through both of his legs, his abdomen, groin and liver.

RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer Felicity Cross said Marmie was lucky to be alive as the pellet narrowly missed his vital organs.

She said: "At first it was thought he had been hit by a car, but when he was examined by a vet it was found that he had been shot – probably at very close range by an air rifle.

He is a lovely animal and although he isn't out of the woods yet, we are all hopeful he will make a full recovery."

Marmie survived thanks to a team of two surgeons and three nurses who worked on him through a three-hour operation under anaesthetic.