Police have sought to reassure owners following the shooting of a pet cat in Marshalswick, St Albans.

A vet has released x-ray images taken of a 10-year-old cat that police say was shot by a pellet gun.

Moggy Billy briefly disappeared from his home in Sherwood Avenue on Monday March 20, only to reappear the next day looking as if he had been hit by a car.

It was only on closer inspection by a vet that his owners discovered Billy had been shot.

The vet had to amputate his hind leg because it had been broken by the pellet.

His owners, Simone Taylor and her son Harrison, said: “The fact that someone did this on purpose is dreadful.”

Billy has not been allowed out the house since the shooting, and Simone has had to fit new stairs to help him get about.

Insp Adam Such said: “This is understandably an upsetting incident for the animal and its owner, and I am aware that it may leave other cat owners worried for their pets’ safety.

“I would like to reassure residents that we are doing all we can to identify the person who has committed this cruel act, and we have received no reports of similar incidents in the St Albans area recently.”

Cat owners, though, remain concerned.

Owner of The Cat Butler, and St Albans Cat Owners facebook group leader, Sandra James, said: “This sort of thing is not uncommon. It’s very worrying.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101, or through Crimestoppers.