A cat has been left with serious injuries after being shot 12 times with an airgun – including twice in the head.

Paul and Jacqui Gill hadn’t seen their 11-month-old kitten KC for a couple of days, so called for him in the area around their Birling home.

Mr Gill explained: “He was nowhere to be seen on Thursday morning, then he came out of a nearby bush and collapsed in the road in front of me.

“We took him to Sandhole Vets and were told there were 12 pellets in him, one of which had been shot at close range and had shattered the bone in his front left leg.

“He’d been shot overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, twice in the head and several times in the ribs, chest area and hind leg until he couldn’t move.”

The Stangate Road residents were faced with the decision to have KC’s leg amputated or to pay for surgery.

“The surgery alone costs £3,000, and I don’t know how much the medication after the operation will cost.

“We don’t have that sort of money just lying around,” Mr Gill added.

The pair set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the vital money for KC to have the operation, and generous donations from the public reached the £4,000 target in a few days.

The shooting was reported to police, who are trying to track down the culprits.

Mrs Gill said: “The more awareness we create from our situation the better.”

Vets hope to operate in the next four weeks, providing KC is well enough.

Ian Johnson, senior veterinary surgeon at Sandhole Vets in Malling Road, Snodland, said: “Thankfully we do not see many cases like this, but of those we have seen, this was particularly nasty due to the damage done.”

According to figures released by the RSPCA, Kent is one of the worst places in the country for airgun attacks, with 192 reported in the county since 2012.

Top of the list is Greater London, with 284 attacks reported in five years.

Police have asked that anyone with information get in touch with them on 01622 604100 quoting reference 29-0432. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.