A fundraising campaign has been launched for a cat that survived being shot multiple times.

Callie, of Tunbridge Wells, was struck by airgun pellets in the eye, mouth, neck and spine.

He had gone missing and survived alone and in agony for days.

Now his owner Katrina Gurnett has set up a JustGiving crowdfunding page to get £3,000 needed for his veterinary care.

Mrs Gurnett said: "The vet spoke of amputating one or both back legs, removing his right eye and also the worst-case scenario.

"How could we have him put down when he had fought so hard to stay alive?”

Callie had gone missing on Tuesday, September 5, and was found crying in pain the dark five days later.

But it was not yet clear that he had been shot.

Mrs Gurnett said: “We thought that he must have been hit by a car, laid low and found his way home.

"How could we have him put down when he had fought so hard to stay alive?" - Katrina Gurnett

“Callie was left with the vet overnight for x-rays and sedation.

“On our way home, I realised that I had a voicemail, it was the vet who said she knew it would sound shocking, she was sorry but having done one x-ray it revealed that Callie had been shot with an airgun.

“We were devastated.”

Katrina and her husband have already spent thousands so far on medication, overnight vet’s fees and treatment.

There are weekly check-ups and the prospect of expensive surgery ahead.

But Mrs Gurnett said: “Unfortunately and stupidly on our part, he wasn’t insured.

"He is now as are our other two cats but that does not cover anything relating to this incident.”

So far the JustGiving page had reached £445, 14% of the target.

• If you can help visit the web page justgiving.com/crowdfunding/katrina-gurnett.