Leeds airgun attacks on cats

Pet owners have been warned to remain on their guard after the Yorkshire Evening Post has reported several air gun attacks on cats in Leeds.

Saskia Klauck, a vet who is a partner at Companion Care veterinary surgery in Pudsey, says she has treated four cats recently for gun shot wounds, and although none have so far died from their injuries, Saskia believes it is only a matter of time before a cat is seriously injured or even killed.

She said: "It started over the Easter holidays and I'm concerned because there is another school holiday coming up."

"Pet owners should be alert to the fact that someone is taking pot shots at their cats. There have even been reports of joggers being fired at.”
"It's a matter of getting the pellets out, but if they are in a very hard to reach area or they hit a vital organ that's when things get really serious and there can be complications.

"In the past I have had to amputate the legs of cats who have been shot by air rifles."

"We just want to make people aware."

The incidents have happened in a concentrated area, close to the railway line, particularly close to Duckett's Crossing.

In extreme circumstances operations to remove air gun pellets can take over four hours, causing considerable and understandable distress to the animal concerned - and for those owners who haven't taken out pet insurance, the procedure can cost over £1500.