Cat paralysed after being shot with an air gun

Otis has been paralysed from the waist down after he was shot in the spine with an air gun

A cat has been left paralysed after hofficially being shot in the spine with an air gun.

Otis the cat was found near Alder Road in Castleton on Friday afternoon (26 January) after being shot, believed to be a targeted attack due to the pellet’s location.

Resident Carmel Cavanagh, who rescues cats, was getting ready for work when she discovered him.

She explained: “I was in my bedroom getting ready for work when I saw a few cats on the grassy verge opposite my house. I could see a grey and white cat dragging himself across the grass; he’d come from behind the fence from the end house.

“There was a couple of cats with him behaving strangely, so I grabbed my dressing gown and ran outside. I saw his back legs had gone and took my dressing gown off, where I wrapped him up gently. Because I had work, I ran down the street to Fiona’s, and told her there was something wrong with this cat. I gave her some phone numbers and told her what to do and to get him to a vet.”

She continued: “I have five cats of my own, and I’m scared to let them out, especially as I’ve heard someone on our street does have an air gun. I thought this was a safer street. Where Otis has been shot, it looks as though it was point-blank range. It’s awful because he is a happy and healthy cat.”

Otis, who is around two-years-old, is currently on cage rest and is on painkillers and antibiotics. He is being looked after by cat fosterer Fiona Harvey.

She said: “I have taken Otis on as one of my own cats.

“I foster cats for a local lady who rescue cats called Debbie Maureen, and we took him to Valley Vet Care on Whitworth Road. We nicknamed him Lucky as we did not know his name. His owners did turn up at the weekend, but they have signed him over to my care.

“The vet was reluctant to operate as he does not want to cause any more damage at the moment. The pellet is either extremely close to, if not touching his spine. He can not use his back legs and he keeps wetting himself because he can’t control his bladder.

"I am hoping he just has nerve damage and bruising because he is content and he is still cleaning himself. I owe the vet around £204 at the moment, but we are hoping to be able to raise money for a wheelchair for his back legs. Any money raised that is not used will be donated to Debbie's rescue.”

Debbie, who has started a fundraiser for Otis, added: “We need help to raise funds to help with vet bills which will increase with ongoing treatment. Otis is a beautiful cat: he is so loving, and it is heart-breaking to see him this way. This pellet has narrowly miss his vital organs and he will need ongoing treatment. We will not give up on him.”

The incident has been reported to the RSPCA and Greater Manchester Police.

The horrific attack on Otis follows similar attacks on two cats from the borough last summer. Caspar, a black and white cat from Heywood, was shot near his home last May, and Macy, a black and white rescue cat from Newhey, lost her eye after she was shot.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/111604/cat-lovers-urged-to-back-air-rifle-campaign-after-two-attacks-in-rochdale

Cats Protection says a lack of UK-wide regulation means 90% of air gun attacks on cats happens in England and Wales, with a reported 202 cats in the UK shot with an air gun in 2016.

Deliberately injuring an animal with an air rifle carries the threat of at least six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £20,000.

The government is currently holding a public consultation into air weapon regulation, including licensing, which closes on on Tuesday 6 February, making this the ideal time for cat lovers to make their voices heard by sending an e-mail to the Home Office.

Follow the steps to send an email directly to the Home Office about air weapons at:

https://cats.e-activist.com/page/17714/action/1

To help fund Otis’ treatment, visit:

https://www.gofundme.com/52mqxq8