A FAMILY cat is recovering at home after being shot twice with a pellet gun in Newport.

Anita Pettitt found her four-year-old cat Rouley bleeding behind her garden shed after he had been shot.

Mrs Pettitt, of Woodland Park Road said: ‘He was at the back of the shed under the conifers covered in the blood. He wasn’t shot in the garden. It must have taken him a while to get back.

"It was a bit of a shock because there are a lot of pet cats around here.’ The cat was taken to a local vet and had to stay there for four days.

Mrs Pettitt said one of the bullets was close to his heart and lungs.

She has warned other cat owners living nearby and was worried in case a dog or even a child is hit next.

Mrs Pettitt said Rouley was still finding it difficult to walk and could not put any pressure on his rear legs.

She said they are still waiting to see if he makes a full recovery.

The incident, on March 26, was reported to the police the same day and officers carried out house to house enquiries in the area.

A spokeswoman said the family and neighbours were advised to be vigilant and to report any activity in the area where an air gun may be used.