Owner Susan Wasikowski says the two-year-old tom cat suffered injuries to his bowel, kidney and spleen in the shooting last Tuesday.

And now Susan is warning other pet owners to be on their guard to prevent further attacks on animals.

He had been let out in the early hours when Susan's husband returned after a late shift to their home on Wood Street.

But Borys returned just half an hour later in distress.

"We saw he was bleeding but we didn't realise at first that he had been shot," Susan told Chad.

"When the vet told us I was horrified –– we've lived here for many years and had two cats before Borys –– nothing like this has ever happened.

"We've got absolutely no idea what happened because it was in the morning –– I think it is unlikely to have been teenagers because they wouldn't be up by then."

The vet explained to Susan that Borys had been shot with a pellet gun, which had caused damage to his bowel, kidney and spleen.

"At first they weren't worried because they said the pellets did not usually cause problems," she said.

"But when we brought him home he started to get worse and we took him back. They've taken out one of the pellets but they want to leave the other one because it might do more harm than good to remove it.

"He's all stitched up now and not very mobile but he's walking okay.

"I just can't believe someone would do this to a cat. There are so many cats on our road and I'm worried that it's going to happen to someone else."

• Anyone with information should contact Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 33 33 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.