Wickford mum 'can't afford Christmas' after cat shot

Essex Police said it has launched an investigation after Loki was found with a pellet in his spine.

A mum of two fears she will not be able to afford Christmas after spending "£2,500 on emergency care" for her cat who was shot with a pellet.

Emma Hunt said her sons were "heartbroken" after she found Loki unable to move his legs near their Wickford home in Essex.

After taking the pet to the vet, Ms Hunt said he was put down as she couldn't afford more treatment.

Police believe he was shot with a BB gun.

Loki was found curled under a sandbag

Ms Hunt started to worry about the whereabouts of Loki on 17 November after he didn't come home for dinner one night which "wasn't like him."

She eventually found him on Moorland Road in Basildon, curled under a sandbag and unable to move his legs.

Ms Hunt took him to the vet where a pellet was discovered in his spine.

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She said she was told an operation and further treatment would cost £10,000 but there was no guarantee her cat would walk again.

She added: "We made the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep and that was the end of our little boy.

"I've got another little cat who spends every night screaming and crying and searching everywhere trying to find him."

Despite grieving for Loki, she said she was touched by "amazing" members of the public who have offered to buy the family presents "because we can't afford Christmas".

Vets discovered a pellet in Loki's spine

Essex Police said it had launched an investigation after it received reports of a cat being injured on Moreland Road.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "It was devastating to hear what happened to poor Loki and our hearts go out to her owners.

"Why someone would target an innocent animal like this we do not know - it was just cruel and so unnecessary.

"It left a family heartbroken and was a callous and cruel attack on a helpless and defenceless much-loved pet."