A CAISTER family is warning pet owners to be vigilant after their beloved cat died after being shot in the stomach on New Year's Eve.

Julie Wood's female pet Bow suffered a punctured lung when she was attacked on Monday.

Despite treatment from vets, the 18 month old cat later died from her injuries.

It is believed Bow was shot with a gas powered air rifle and police are now investigating. Julie and her family are also warning pet owners in the area to be alert.

Her son-in-law Andrew Grant, 27, said: 'We went to let other people in the area with cats know.

'It's just a blow and a downer for the new year, especially on the first day (of 2013) to find your cat's been shot.'

Julie had let Bow and her three other cats out as normal at around 4.30pm on Monday. But while the other cats returned to the house in Belstead Avenue later on that evening, Bow did not come home.

It was not until 12.30pm on New Year's Day that the family discovered her on their doorstep, bloodied and weary.

Andrew said: 'She had crawled back somehow. She was limp and weak as anything and she had blood on her. We took her straight to the vets and that was when they found the hole. She had a scan and they said it had punctured her lung and her lung had filled up with blood.'

Bow was kept in for two nights as staff from Haven Vets worked to drain the blood from her lungs but yesterday (Thursday) they told the family the most humane course of action would be to put her down.

But when they went to give her the injection they found she had died.

The family are saddened and shocked by the attack on much-loved Bow, who they owned since she was a kitten.

'She was the little baby who wouldn't say boo to a goose,' Andrew added. 'She was harmless and she liked saying hello to people and being affectionate.

'She was always the one that stayed in at night because she wasn't a streetwise cat as such.'

Police have been making enquiries and investigating since the family reported the attack and officers are now appealing for information.

Anyone who can help with their investigation should call police at Caister on 101.