Vicious thugs have shot a cat in the right eye.

Now Shadow could become totally blind.

Vets also cannot at present remove the missile, believed to be an airgun pellet, which is now stuck behind his jaw.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW

Owner Jan Scotcher, 71, of Underdown Road, Dover, said: “I have been a cat owner all my life this has never happened to any other of my pets.

“What has been done is absolutely wicked. I am so very angry.

“Now I want to warn other pet owners of what has happened.”

Shadow, a three-year-old black tom, was shot between 4pm and 6pm on yesterday while he was let out.

Mrs Scotcher said: “When he first came home we didn’t realise anything was wrong because he seemed normal.

“But later that evening he didn’t come down for his dinner.

"I went to see him and his eye was almost hanging out.

“We took him straight to the vet.

“I am sure that this happened very close to our home because he always stays nearby and he can hear us when we call him.”

The Burnham House Veterinary Surgery in Castle Street and had to remove Shadow’s eye today.

Mrs Scotcher said: “He could become totally blind because the optic nerves are so close.

“The pellet is lodged in a bone so the surgeon can’t get to that so Shadow may have to just have to live with it.”

Mrs Scotcher is a payroll administrator for the MNP Complete Care Group in Folkestone, which runs care homes.

She and her partner Frank Andrews ,66, are animal lovers who give a home to rescue pets.

They have three other cats and three dogs.

There have been a number of cases of pets cruelly shot by louts, usually at random.

Last month a cat called Kevin was shot dead outside his home in Deal.

That attack was thought to have been with an air rifle.

For Shadow's case a police spokesman said: “Kent Police received a report of an injured cat in the area of Underdown Road, Dover on Sunday, July 23."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has more information is urged to call 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/33516/17 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.