When wayward Woody the cat returned after vanishing for two days, his owner thought he had been in a tussle with a neighbourhood cat.

The punch-drunk puss failed to recover so his owner, Vanessa Parry, decided to take him to the vets to check the marks to his head.

She was horrified when she was told he had been blasted twice in the head with an airgun and one of the pellets was lodged in his skull.

Woody is now recovering from emergency surgery at Top Cat Veterinary Centre, although it is not clear if he will survive.

Mrs Parry, 39, who lives in Mackie Avenue, Brighton, said another of her four cats, Felix, had been shot last month.

The airgun pellet remains lodged behind his left ear although he is showing no signs of distress.

Mrs Parry said: "We are not sure at the moment whether Woody will survive or not.

"Even if he survives this operation he may have to have another one."

Fighting back tears, she said she was shocked anyone could be so callous.

She said: "I can't believe there's anybody sick and sad enough to want to go and shoot at a defenceless cat.

"I just think it's disgraceful. People need to be warned there are people like that out there."

Vanessa believes her pets may have been targeted while roaming in woods behind her home.

She is now worried about the safety of her other two cats, Buzz and Bobby.

She said: "We've no idea who did it. I'm obviously worried about the safety of my other cats now.

"But they are outdoor animals and we can't suddenly stop them going out just because of this."

Son Cameron, nine, said: "I think they are nasty people. It's been really upsetting seeing him injured."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said people caught injuring animals could expect to be punished.

She said: "These attacks are all too common and can cause defenceless animals a tremendous amount of pain.

"Anyone found causing unnecessary suffering to animals can expect a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a £5,000 fine."

Anyone with any information about the shootings should call police on 0845 6070999 or the RSPCA 24-hour helpline on 0870 5555999.