A woman is calling for dog owners to keep their pets on leads after her cat was “mauled” in her front garden.

Lauren Hodgson’s 11-month-old kitty Saint was left with serious injuries after being attacked in Grafton Road, Broadstairs.

The 26-year-old didn’t think her beloved pet “would make it to the vets” as the moggy was not breathing properly and there was “blood everywhere”.

Thankfully, Saint survived the ordeal - but may be left blind in one eye.

The cat is uninsured so Lauren, who is expecting a baby, and husband Ryan now face a huge vets bill.

The couple, who live with Ryan’s parents, were woken up at 1am on September 1 after the attack.

Lauren’s in-laws had heard a “commotion” and went outside to find “this guy was trying to get his dog off our cat”.

“We didn’t think he was going to live for much longer,” she said.

Ryan called Herne Bay emergency vets, but Lauren stopped him, saying: “He’s not going to make it there.”

Instead, they rang nearby Briar House Vets, which was thankfully open.

“Saint had pneumothorax [a collection of air outside the lung] but they managed to get the air off his lungs, and then they put him in an oxygen tank,” Lauren said.

“They said the shock was getting to him so they wanted him to rest before they did anything else.”

After spending the night at the vets, Lauren got home at 5am.

They then got the call to say Saint was stable and no longer in a critical condition.

With the attack occurring under the cover of darkness, it is not known exactly what breed the dog was. Lauren’s mother-in-law Mandy described it as a short and squat, similar to a bull terrier.

Lauren said: “I think it's disgusting that dogs should be allowed off-lead in public places.

“There are too many dangers on a normal street to just let them wander free.

“It’s not just about protecting other animals.

“That dog could have been hit by a car because it’s obviously not very good off the lead.

“The owners couldn't control it. I’m upset because if it was leashed my cat would be fine now.”

Currently, owners have a legal responsibility under the Dangerous Dogs Act to keep their pets “under control” in public places.

However, Lauren believes this law is “soft” and it should be stipulated that animals are kept on a lead in residential areas.

She added: “We love dogs. I’ve been raised around big dogs and they have always been on the lead.

“Take them to the dog park and let them run - that’s fine.

“But you don't know if your dog is under control until it's too late and they don't respond to recall.

“Clearly, the dog that attacked Saint wasn't under control.”

Now, the cat is confined to a crate while a hairline fracture on his paw heals.

“Only time will tell” if he will regain sight in his right eye, which is currently not responding to light or movement.

Feeling “grumpy and sore”, Saint is usually a “cuddly little cat” and is Ms Hodgson’s “little boy”.

She said: “My morning routine is I open the door and he’s there.

“He climbs up onto my shoulders, cuddles into my neck and stays there while I brush my teeth and get ready.

“I walk downstairs with him on my shoulders.

“He’s always with me and it’s really horrible that he’s not at the moment because he’s too poorly.”

Mandy saw the dog owner walking away after the attack and stopped him to ask for his name and phone number.

He has given the family £100 towards vet bills, but the price tag for Saint’s treatment is already at £1,500 - with more costs to come.

With a baby on the way, Lauren has started a GoFundMe to help pay for the unexpected vet fees.

The couple had not insured Saint because he had previously been an indoor cat. But they moved in with Ryan’s parents earlier this year and this house has a cat flap.

When asked about calls to put dogs on leads, an RSPCA spokesman said: “This does sound like a very distressing incident and it is sad to hear that this cat has been impacted like this.

“Dog owners already have a legal responsibility under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to keep their dog under control in a public place.”