AN anguished cat owner has told how her beloved pet spent three weeks in agonising pain with an airgun pellet lodged in its chest.

Raging Ann Ballantyne, 58, of Duntocher, Clydebank, has called for help in catching the sick maniac who blasted her six-year-old pet Oscar.

The poor animal spent weeks in severe pain, with Ann only discovering the horrific wound because he constantly scratched at his neck.

Ann was unaware the mark was actually a bullet-hole from where a metal slug entered the defenceless animal's body.

She at first thought that Oscar was scratching at fleas trapped in his coat.

But it was only after a visit to the vet that the full horror of the malicious injury to the family pet emerged.

She was disgusted to discover some mindless thug had attempted to kill off her pet.

She said: "I was absolutely horrified that someone can do this.

"Whoever has done it has obviously been aiming to kill.

"I was checking him over because he has been off colour for two to three days.

"I checked to see if he has any wounds because cats can get in fights.

"That's when I found this lump - he winced and I realised it was inside him. There was an entrance wound three weeks ago but it must have healed over. I put a flea collar on him at the time because he had been clawing at his neck.

"To do that is like shooting a member of your family - it's horrific and I don't know what kind of mentality you would have to do such a thing."

Ann, who is a full-time carer, is puzzled why anyone would want to kill her pet cat.

And she is shocked that such a horrific event could happen in her community where many families enjoy keeping animals.

Oscar is scheduled to go under the knife today to have the slug removed from his chest.

Ann added: "I've lived here five years and because my cats are so unusual kids will come up to them.

"But I have had no trouble at all.

"I know there's people who hate cats but they are very unlikely to go to this extreme.

"Oscar would only usually go out in the day time, he doesn't go out prowling or anything like that.

"He's not going out now and he's up lying in his bed.

"Cats hold themselves in a certain manner when they are ill and you can tell he's not well."

Anyone with information on the attack on Oscar is urged to contact Clydebank Police Station on 0141 532 3300.