A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy offered to use his pocket money to pay his pet cat’s vet bill — after she was shot nine times.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has any information relating to the shooting of two-year-old short-haired cat Poppy in the Broadwoodwidger area, sometime between Sunday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 25.

It is believed Poppy was shot with an air rifle and she had to have her front right leg amputated. She was treated by North Park Veterinary Group.

Poppy and her sister, Sooty, belong to six-year-old Josh, his sixteen-week-old brother Edward, and their mother and father Helen and Darren Penna.

The family gave the cats a home when they were around four months old. At the time, they were a surprise Christmas present for Helen.

After learning that Poppy had been injured, Josh offered to help pay the vet bill with his pocket money, as his mother Helen explained: “He’s only six years old and having to explain that someone on purpose has shot our cat — he got quite upset. It upsets me to see him like that. He wanted to pay out of his pocket money.

“The police have not had anyone come forward. I understand that we will probably never know who did it, but we wanted to make sure it’s not a recurring event in our area. The person who did it might read it and feel guilty.

“The knowledge they wouldn’t do it again would be enough for me.”

When Poppy was taken to the vet out of hours, Helen was told Poppy had been shot more than once, and X-rays the day after showed the extent of the injuries. Helen said the vets were ‘shocked’, but added: “It wasn’t new to them. I don’t think they had seen one shot so many times.”

After the police shared the details of the incident to social media, Helen said there had been comments from people suggesting the cats should not be let outside.

However, Helen said: “We live on a 60-acre farm, they are farm cats, they go out and catch mice and things, but they are also pets — they often sleep on my son’s bed at night.”

Thankfully, Poppy is on the mend. Helen said: “To be honest, you wouldn’t know there’s been much wrong with her. She seems to be jumping okay and she’s fed up of being inside.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PCSO Raquel Rowe via email: [email protected] or call the non-emergency 101 line quoting CR/093109/17.