A KITTEN had to be put to sleep after being shot by an air rifle in York.

North Yorkshire Police said the eight-month-old kitten, called Biscuit, was shot in Almsford Road, Acomb, in what the force called "a brutal air weapon attack".

A spokeswoman said the kitten was injured on Monday, March 18, and taken to a local vets who found Biscuit had a pellet embedded in his spine, and he was paralysed from the hips down "and in immense pain", according to the RSPCA.

Owner Jennifer Kendrew said: "I just can’t believe that someone could do this. Biscuit was only eight months old, he was still just a kitten really, and was only just coming into himself.

"He was very much exploring the world, deciding on his favourite spots to sit and things to do. He liked to play, like kittens do, and made us laugh. We have lost cats on the road before and that’s awful, but you can understand it. The fact that someone would deliberately hurt Biscuit in this way is unbelievable."

York Press:

RSPCA inspector Thomas Hutton said: "Biscuit was in agony and could barely move when he was discovered so this incident has happened close to the area where he was found.  "This was a deliberate attack on a defenceless pet who suffered a great deal and ultimately lost his life, leaving his owners devastated. I am appealing for anyone who knows anything to contact me, and for anyone with CCTV in the area to check it in case that throws up any leads."

Insp Hutton said the RSPCA received almost 1,000 calls for similar air weapon attacks around the UK each year, which cause "horrific and often fatal" injuries.

The charity is calling for tighter controls on air weapons, along with "better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun".

Anyone who saw the incident, or has information which could help police should phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting reference 12190049005, or the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 1238018 and ask to leave a message for Thomas Hutton.