A CRIMINAL investigation has been launched after a beloved family pet cat was shot in the spine. 

Loki the ragdoll cat was rushed to the vet with a airgun pellet lodged in his back.

According to his owner, Lisa Fry, he was almost left paralysed.

The RSPCA has now confirmed that it is looking into the attack in New Milton on August 12. 

A spokesperson for the national charity said: “Earlier this month, as part of our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, we released shocking new figures that showed lethal weapons including crossbows, air guns, catapults and slingshots are being used to deliberately target and kill wildlife and pets.

“Since the beginning of 2020, the RSPCA has received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with a weapon. Airguns and rifles were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, with 658 reports made.

“Day after day, our frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals - severe injuries often leading to death. Each year, reports of cruelty reach a terrible annual peak in the summer months – and we're facing another summer of reports about innocent animals being targeted by air rifles, catapults and other deadly weapons.”

The animal charity has been campaigning to remove a loophole from firearm legislation which allows minors unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land, describing it as a ‘recipe for disaster’.

The UK Government agreed with this proposal and in July 2022 undertook to amend the Firearms Rules 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns by minors, but this has yet to occur one year on. 

Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Anyone with information concerning the attack against Loki Anyone should report it to Hampshire Police, quoting crime reference number: 44230325460.