Police are investigating as a Port Fairy family has been left shaken after their pet cat was shot on Friday morning and is now fighting for its life.
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After letting their cat out to go to the bathroom, the family was shocked to find their cat lying on their doorstep.
"We moved our cat off the dairy farm into town on Monday and the cat had been acting very coy, wasn't exploring the area and wasn't venturing far from our driveway," the mother said.
"When I saw him lying their I thought he'd been poisoned.
"Normally our cat darts inside the house and around to say hello to everybody in the morning. But he got up slowly from the doormat and was very lethargic."
Hurrying her son to help her take their cat to the Port Fairy veterinarians, the family were quickly told to take their pet to a Warrnambool vet.
"At first the vet said it was a wound from a slug gun," the mother said.
"After they took an x-ray they could see the bullet had gone through the chest and come out the other side.
"They found the bullet and removed it and found it was a .22 calibre bullet from a high-powered rifle."
The family is staggered as to how their shy cat could have been shot by such a powerful weapon in a residential area of Port Fairy.
"We got him as a kitten for Christmas," she said.
"The kids are dumbfounded as to how someone can shoot a cat in town.
"My son is a licensed gun holder and is shocked a person did not identify his target first."
The cat is currently recovering at a Warrnambool veterinary until it begins eating.
Port Fairy police sergeant David Walkley confirmed the incident had been reported and the bullet removed from the cat was a .22 calibre round, but could not confirm the type of firearm involved.
He said police were continuing to investigating the circumstances around the shooting.
"We are following a number of avenues of inquiry," Sergeant Walkley said.
"Police are looking at aggravated cruelty to animal charges, discharging a firearm in a populated area and potentially other firearms offences."
Sergeant Walkley said police were eager to hear from anyone with information about this incident. Anyone with information should contact Port Fairy police or Crimestoppers.
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