A CAT owner is urging others to be vigilant after two of her pets were seriously injured by an air rifle.

Carol Mcauley, 62, said she was ‘constantly on pins’ after six-year-old Sox and her four-year-old grandson Midge returned home with pellets lodged in their bodies.

Now police are worried someone in the area is shooting cats for fun.

Mrs Mcauley thought that Sox had been accidently hit when a lump was discovered under her fur.

But doubts began to creep in when Midge came back a week later with a lump of fur missing on both sides of his body where a pellet had travelled through.

Mrs Mcauley, of Heys Lane, Darwen, said: “I knew when I saw Midge that it was deliberate. Luckily he wasn’t bleeding a lot and the vet managed to put a staple under his left ear and three in his left side, but it could have been a lot worse.

“Sox still has the pellet in her because the vet is worried by taking it out, he may damage a vital organ.

“I have six cats in total and I’m constantly on pins now every time they go out.”

It is thought that the cats were shot in an alley between Heys Lane and Dove Lane.

PCSO Chris Lancaster from Darwen neighbourhood policing team said such attacks were cruel and probably by yobs looking for a sick form of ‘entertainment’.

He said: “It is concerning that this may not be an isolated incident but I would like to reassure local people and cat owners that we are committed to finding the people responsible.

“I would urge anybody who witnessed anything or with any information to contact police.”

Call police on 08451 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555