Cat-lovers are in fear for their pets' safety after a spate of shootings with airguns.

In one incident vets reported treating a cat with six pellet wounds.

Graphic designer Henry Hyde took his cat Chuffy to a vet after he found an airgun pellet stuck near her rib cage on Monday morning.

Mr Hyde and his partner Ann Prescott, 51, a wedding dress designer, have been left shocked by the attack on their four-year-old pet.

Mr Hyde, 47, who works from home in Granville Road, Hove, said: "Chuffy came in at about 11am and was miaowing at me and she really wanted attention.

"I picked her up and stroked her and felt this thing in her side and saw she had an airgun pellet in her.

"Some time over the 12 hours before someone shot at her."

The couple, who also have another cat, Chuffy's twin sister Biddy, took Chuffy to Wilbury Veterinary Surgery in Wilbury Avenue, Hove, where the pellet was removed and the wound was cleaned.

The vet prescribed Chuffy a course of pain-killers and antibiotics to prevent further infection.

Mr Hyde said: "Fortunately, the pellet struck the cat on the rib cage, which prevented it from penetrating further."

Vet Zoe Coker, who treated Chuffy, said: "We see one or two cases of animals with pellet wounds every year. My own cat lost her eye from an airgun shot. She also has three pellets lodged in her. It's common enough though we shouldn't see it at all. Airguns can kill or cause fractures. Above all it's cruel."

While Mr Hyde was at the vet's he reported the matter to the police.

He said they have notified their colleagues who will be keeping a watch of the area.

Mr Hyde said: "Fortunately she's fine and animals are pretty resilient.

"There is someone round here who has got a very strange way of treating animals.

There are a lot of cat owners in this area and our neighbours know our cats extremely well and would not do anything like this.

"Someone has decided to make a sport out of people's pets. The police have said it is serious because it shows a kind of recklessness.

"I think it shows an appalling disregard and lack of respect for life.

"It is obviously a character who does not think about how much a pet means to someone."

Has your cat been shot? Call Ruth Lumley on 01273 544525 or comment below.