A cat had to have part of its stomach removed after being shot at close range, leaving its owner with a £1,500 bill.


Elena Peristiani’s 6-year-old cat Bobby went missing on July 24.


She was relieved when he returned home, to Tattenham Way, in Epsom Downs, two days later but was "devastated" after he collapsed.


After taking him to the vet, an x-ray revealed Bobby had been shot with an air rifle.


The 35-year-old, whose house backs on to Tattenham recreation ground where Bobby frequently wanders around, said: "When he came home, he only just made it through the door and then passed out.


"I thought it was the heat, but the next day I took him to the vet who, after doing an x-ray, found a pellet in his stomach. 

"The vet said he had probably been shot at close range.


"He had an operation to have part of his gut removed as he had internal bleeding and he had damaged the pads on his paws which the vet said showed he had been frantically running.


"He is back home now, but all his body has been shaved.  I was devastated.


"My five-year-old son thinks of Bobby as a brother."


Mrs Peristiani, who has had Bobby since he was eight weeks’ old, said £1,500 was a "hefty price tag" to pay but the operation he required was complex.


She said: "The vets didn’t know what they would find, but when they did the operation they found Bobby’s stomach had to be removed.


"We didn’t have any insurance so we just had to pay."


Mrs Peristiani, said she reported the incident to the police, but without exact details as to when and where the attack occurred, there is little they can do - although she said they would look to increase their patrols around the recreation ground.


She added: "The only saving grace was that he found his way home. 

"Is it because of the summer holidays that there are teenagers who have nothing to do? 

"I wouldn’t like to think that anyone would do that.


"I want to raise awareness that there are mindless people out there doing stupid things."


Have you had a similar experience or do you have any information about the incident?  Leave a comment below or contact Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk