A CAT who was shot with an air rifle is 'lucky to be alive', after the pellet burst through the animal's intestines.

Marley, an eight-year-old tabby cat, was rushed to Westmoor Veterinary Centre in Tavistock on Wednesday evening last week, after his owners found him curled up in pain on his bed in the corner of their shed — and that his body weight had dropped by half.

Amy Nickson, Marley's owner, said she had not seem him for almost two days and was growing considerably concerned as he is usually a 'stay at home' cat.

Amy, who lives in Grenville Drive, Tavistock, said: 'By the Tuesday I was so worried as he usually comes home every day as he is a creature of comfort. We went looking for him on Wednesday and found him outside in the shed, curled up. I went to pick him up but he was so skinny — you could see he was in distress.

'When we took him to the vets they opened him up and saw a hole in his gut and found an air pellet, which had ripped a hole in his intestines.

Nathalie Helmore, a vet at Westmoor, said the gut had a perforation which had caused peritonitis, which she said was in itself 'very dangerous'.

She said: 'We took an x-ray and from that we found the gun pellet. We treated the peritonitis and patched up the gut and hopefully Marley will pull through, as peritonitis is a very serious condition.

'Marley is certainly a lucky cat as if he hadn't come in he probably wouldn't have made it through.'

On May 11 Amy was allowed to bring Marley home but with strict instructions to keep him on a special diet and not let him outside.

Amy said: 'Marley is on antibiotics and pain killers and still has to have another operation to remove the air pellet — this has resulted in a vet bill in excess of £1,500.

'I want to catch the person who has done this, so it doesn't happen again to another animal. I think what this person has done is disgusting.'

PCSO Kevin Williams from Tavistock is making enquiries around the area to see if anyone saw or heard anything between Wednesday, April 29 and Wednesday, May 6.

Anyone with information should call PCSO Williams at Tavistock Police Station on 08452 777444 and quote crime reference number JT/09/512.