AN air-gun thug is being hunted after a spate of pet cat shootings.

One family has been left with two injured moggies following the attacks at the weekend.

Cats Red and Ziggy both have air gun pellets lodged inside them after vets said it would be too dangerous to remove them.

The RSPCA said the incidents would leave animal lovers ‘sickened’ and ‘could be just the tip of the iceberg’ in the area.

Police are now investigating whether other cats have been targeted.

Experts said the animals had been shot at quite short range.

Red was so badly injured that she was left covered in blood after the attack.

Owner Nathan Walton, 27, lives in Lower Darwen with his partner Danielle Royle, 27 and baby daughter Evie, who is only 12 weeks old.

He said: “It has been horrifying for us as a family. If there is someone out there taking pot shots at cats then what next?

“Red could have bled to death. Who would do that to a defenceless cat?

"We have reported it to the police and RSPCA and they are worried that there could be other pets targeted in the same way.

“The vets were disgusted about what happened. We were told that both of our cats could have died.”

He said his first cat, Ziggy, suffered an injury which he initially put down to a puncture from a tree or a bush.

But when Red returned home covered in blood and suffering from a very similar puncture wound he took the pet to the vets to be examined and the pellets were discovered.

An RSPCA spokesman said airgun misuse was a very serious problem.

He said: "This could be just the tip of the iceberg – many animals crawl away and die long, lingering deaths all alone.

“If they’re shooting animals now, who or what will be the next target?

“We understand that some people find cats a nuisance. But there is no excuse for causing them to suffer in this way."

The RSPCA said such attacks were 'relatively rare', but urged people to come forward with any other reports.

The spokesman added: "These cats suffered a great deal of pain and distress so if anyone knows anything at all they should contact us to prevent this from happening to any more animals.”

Airgun attackers can face up to six months in prison.

A police spokesman confirmed an investigation was underway.