A veterinary practice in Hounslow is warning pet owners to be wary of dangerous cat predators after one was shot twice with an air gun rifle.

The shocking message comes days after male cat Kino from Feltham was brought in by his owner for an injury which uncovered the animal had two pointed air gun pellets lodged in his body.

X-rays at the Young Veterinary Partnership in Lampton Road revealed the injury in his front right paw was due to a pellet. A second one had luckily missed the intestines - it could have been fatal.

The incident, which is believed to have happened in Feltham last Thursday (October 6), has also been reported to the police.

Pellet removed from Kino's paw

Vet Matthew Wilson, who examined Kino, wants to raise awareness that someone appears to be targeting cats in the area, urging pet owners particularly in Feltham and Bedfont to keep an extra close eye on their felines.

Mr Wilson said: “Kino is recovering at home, he is very lucky that he has not been left with more severe injuries and we hope that he will make a speedy recovery after his ordeal.

“The use of pointed air gun pellets is particularly worrying as these type of pellets will penetrate further into tissues and could easily cause life-threatening injuries.”

The pellet in Kino's paw was removed in surgery under anaesthesia and the wound was cleaned and sutured at the veterinary practice.

However the pellet found in the stomach appeared to be from a previous incident as any wound had healed over and therefore could not be removed.

Kino's x-ray reveals two pointed air gun pellets; one in his paw (left) and one in the abdomen (right)

Anyone with information is being urged to contact police on 101.