AN ANIMAL lover and her two young daughters have been left distraught after one of their seven cats was shot dead by a sniper.

Sharon Atkinson, 32, of Waterditch Lane, Lenham, near Maidstone, lost her pedigree Turkish Van, Poppy, less than two months after another of her cats was shot and badly injured.

Fortunately on that occasion the pellet narrowly missed the cat's heart and he recovered after undergoing an operation.

Mrs Atkinson said Poppy had been shot dead in a lane close to her home on Tuesday, August 19.

She said: "I am absolutely devastated and feel very miserable. She is irreplaceable. She is not the type of breed you can go out and replace."

Mrs Atkinson, who used to work as a foster carer for the Cats Protection League, said the first incident had involved a cat called Tigger.

Although he recovered after the operation, the surgery and post-operative care left her with a vet's bill for £600.

Mrs Atkinson said the incidents have been particularly distressing for her two young girls, Shannon, six, and Kelsey, four.

She added: "I am concerned that whoever is responsible is going to to pop them off one at a time and we are going to end up with none. At the moment they are sitting targets."

Police say they are investigating the latest incident. A spokeswoman appealed for anyone with information to contact the crime management unit on 01622 608189.