POLICE are hunting cold-hearted thugs who killed and mutilated a pet cat.

One-year-old Jasper was found near a golf course in Wilpshire a week after he was reported missing.

The black-and-white cat’s tail had been cut off and he had been shot in the neck.

His owner, Caroline Walmsley, of Durham Road, Wilpshire, said: “We are absolutely devastated and disgusted that someone could do something like this to a pet.

“The cat was so clever, he was so much fun.”

Jasper was found off Hollowhead Lane on Saturday, October 17, having been reported missing on October 10. The RSPCA has been notified.

Ms Walmsley added: “He always came back home every day, but the grass underneath had not turned yellow, so I think he had been put there that day.

"Someone would have found him before then. He had a precision shot in the side of his neck.

"This is such a nice area and this is such a terrible thing to happen.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We received a call from a member of the public at 10.30pm on October 17 to alert us to the discovery of a dead mutilated cat at the entrance to a farmer’s field near to the golf course.

"We alerted the RSPCA who removed the cat and an investigation is ongoing into the incident to establish how the cat came by its injuries.

"The owner of the cat is understandably upset and anyone with any information should call the police on 01254 51212.”

An RSPCA spokesman confirmed it had received reports of the incident, but said the police were leading the investigation.