I am writing after reading the lead letter in The Argus, regarding the cat shot by an anonymous person with an airgun.

Around 35-40 years ago, I was living with my youngest sister and her husband because of illness, and one day, whilst sleeping during the day, I awoke to find her cat Snowy, and my own cat sharing the bed with me.

They had obviously jumped in through the open ground floor window. I put my hand out to stroke Snowy on her cheek and recoiled.

I was only half awake and had not focused properly so thought that I had touched exposed bone and thought she had been hit by a car.

I called out to my sister who came running at the obvious sound of alarm in my voice, and, as my sight cleared I realised that she had been shot by a crossbow.

The bolt had penetrated through her neck right through her body and under her spine.

As I lifted her, the head pushed the skin up as she bent so I put her down hurriedly.

The bolt had not touched any of her organs luckily but the sight will stay with me forever.

Luckily, she recovered to live to a good age, but such a thing should never have happened.

Not just airguns should be restricted to clubs.

Some crossbones have an incredible range, several hundred yards, albeit not with any accuracy beyond 35-50 yards.

But the bolt can still carry a very long way with unintended consequences. More lethal even than an airgun.

I suspect though that in this case, the act was deliberate.

I've lived a long time but I still find it difficult to understand the mentality of anyone who could commit such a crime, because it is a crime against decency and humanity.

Keith Herriott
Thorndean Road, Brighton