Witnesses are being sought after a pet cat was shot close to a home in Lound.

Eastern Daily Press: Scout the cat's x-rays, showing the extent of the damage which led to her leg having to be amputated after being shot.Scout the cat's x-rays, showing the extent of the damage which led to her leg having to be amputated after being shot. (Image: ©archant2014)

Scout, an eight-year-old tortoiseshell tabby, was left covered in blood and later had to have her front right leg amputated after it was 'shattered' by a single gun shot.

Police inquiries were continuing this week in connection with the 'horrific' incident, which happened in the early hours of May 23 in the Lound area, near Lowestoft.

Shocked owners Jennifer Heath and James Jermy were horrified to discover that their lovable pet cat had been targeted. Mr Jermy said: 'Obviously, it has affected my partner, as it is her cat, but it has been a dreadful couple of weeks. It has been quite traumatic.'

He recalls being awoken and 'startled' by a shotgun going off very close to their house in Lound at about 5.20am on May 23. Mr Jermy said: 'I just thought there was someone shooting out on the fields at the back of where we live and drifted back to sleep for another hour or so.'

Miss Heath went downstairs about 6.15am and then shouted out that the cat was 'covered in blood'.

Mr Jermy said: 'Scout was all huddled up and was in a bad state; we thought that she had been hit by a car.'

The couple took Scout to the vets for treatment, and after 24 hours of care, X-rays showed that she had been shot, Mr Jermy said: 'The vet said her front right leg was completely shattered and she would need several operations. So we had to make the tough decision of having to have her leg removed. 'Seeing the X-rays was quite horrific as you could see all the lead shot in her leg.'

Scout was allowed home a couple of days after surgery, and was still on heavy pain relief for three or four days after the incident as she recovered at home.

Mr Jermy said: 'Slowly and surely she has come to terms with her mobility and trying to walk again. It is unbelievable. For someone to shoot a cat it had to be on purpose.

'The time you pull a shotgun up on to your shoulder, the person who actually pulled the trigger knew what they were shooting at.'

Officers are asking anyone aware of a shooting in the Lound area on May 23 to come forward. Call PC Carlo Di Franco on 101.