A PET cat has been left severely injured and fighting for survival after being shot in the face in Chillaton last week.

Police are appealing for information after the cat returned home having been shot with an air rifle, leaving it with a dislodged jaw and tongue so badly damaged that reconstructive surgery is required. It is not yet certain whether the cat will survive.

The shooting is thought to have happened in the fields to the rear of Park Court in Chillaton. Vets say the cat's injuries are consistent with it being shot with an air rifle.

Tavistock Police Sgt Dave Anning is appealing for people who may have seen anything to come forward: 'We don't know for sure what happened, the cat is a tabby so it may be feasible that someone may have mistaken it for a rabbit or something similar.

'The vet said it was a classic air rifle injury and the cost of the operation is likely to be between £600 and £800.

'At the end of the day, if you're going to go into someone's land to shoot, you need their permission. A cat is a domestic animal and shooting domestic animals is a criminal offence.

'We firstly need to establish whether this was an accidental or deliberate incident — we need local people to tell us whether they have seen people shooting in the fields around Chillaton.'

Anyone with information should contact Tavistock Police on 101 or 08452 777444 or call crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.