A cat lover believes her pedigree pet was “treated like a football” when he suffered horrific injuries outside her Chatham home.

Michelle Denney’s chinchilla breed cat Squire is thought to have been brutally attacked after he got out of the house in Ventnor Close, Princes Park.

The eight-year-old had his jaw broken in two places and his eye had partially come out of its socket.

Mrs Denney took Squire to Medway Park Veterinary Centre in Gillingham, where he had an operation to wire his jaw before he was allowed home to recuperate.

Mrs Denney, 63, who has five other cats, said she fears Squire may have been kicked about by youngsters.

She said: “It’s like he’s been tortured – treated like a football.”

So far his treatment has cost her £500 and this could double if he requires further work to install a plate.

She is currently having to hand-feed him liquidised food through a syringe to build up his strength.

Vet Demalaheeriya Jayasuriya, principal of the surgery in Watling Street, said the animal had sustained nasty injuries.

He said: “He is not a young cat and the inside of his mouth was so swollen we could not get a tube in. We shall be seeing him again to review what we may do next.”

The incident is believed to have happened at about noon on Saturday, January 31. Mrs Denney had opened her door to put rubbish out when Squire and his sister Alice slipped out.

She said: “I managed to grab Alice, but he got away.

“The next I heard was children shouting ‘run, run, quick, quick’.

“All things considered, he is getting better, poor little chap. I am extremely grateful to the vets.”