In recent years London has had the highest number of reported air gun attacks on animals according to figures released by the RSPCA.
Britain's biggest animal charity is calling for stricter regulations around the use of air guns as the number of calls to the charity reporting air gun attacks on animals is set to reach a five-year.
Scotland has recently introduced regulation requiring anyone with an air gun to have a licence.
The RSPCA has already seen an increase in reports across Britain this year with more than 470 so far in 2017, compared with 455 during the same period last year.
Figures collected from 2012 reveal London has highest number of attacks reported, with a total of 284 reports in the last five years - higher than second on the list, the West Midlands with 257.
"It is a depressing fact that every year hundreds of victims of air gun attacks are reported to the RSPCA" said assistant director of the RSPCA Inspectorate, Dermot Murphy, adding: "While wild animals are often victims, the most targeted animal is domestic cats that often suffer fatal or life-changing injuries.
"We receive hundreds of calls from devastated cat owners every year after they discover their beloved pets have been shot."
Last year alone the RSPCA received 890 calls reporting air gun attacks, a figure which is set to be topped this year with almost 500 reported already.
Mr Murphy added: "It is difficult to understand how anyone could carry out these mindless attacks on innocent animals and we are backing calls for stricter regulations around owning an airgun.
"This, along with better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun, and requirements that everyone must receive basic safety training before being allowed to walk out of the shop could help relieve the problem."
Currently, if caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal and found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act, an individual can be sentenced to up to six months in prison and/or receive a £20,000 fine.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, anyone who possesses, purchases or uses an air weapon must have a licence and the RSPCA is backing a petition launched by Cats Protection to extend this legislation to England and Wales.
You can find the petition, which currently has over 44,000 signatures, here.
Anyone wishing to report an animal being shot or targeted by someone with an airgun should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
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