Cookie the cat is lucky to be alive today after a callous thug shot him right between the eyes and left a pellet lodged deep in his brain.
The nine-month old cat staggered into owner Helen Connelly's home in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, with blood pouring from his nose after the attack.
Ms Connelly, 42, rushed him to the vet, where X-rays revealed an airgun pellet lodged in his skull directly between his eyes.
How many lives left? Cookie the cat, from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, who has escaped death by a whisker after he was shot right between the eyes
Inoperable. This X-ray shows the location of the pellet lodged in Cookie's brain. Vets say they cannot remove it without a serious risk of killing him
Tragically, it cannot be removed, vets say, because the invasive surgery could damage Cookie's brain and lead to his death.
Ms Connelly said today: 'It makes me sick. Whoever did this clearly needs some help, Cookie is just a defenceless cat.
'These guns should be banned and the person who has done this should be sent to jail. It is a despicable crime'
When Cookie came home with his injury, Mr Connelly first thought he had been fighting with another cat.
But on closer inspection she saw the wound was more serious and contacted the emergency vet.
Since the attack last Monday, Cookie has been on a cocktail of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and penicillin, and his vet's bill has so far reached £300.
Ms Connelly said: 'They might not be able to remove the pellet as it could be too near to his brain.
'He is eating okay just now and getting around alright, but he is on a lot of medication.'
'The last check-up showed the pellet in the skull but it isn't causing him any problem. We will have to go back in and get more X-rays to see exactly where the pellet is in the future.'
'It makes me sick': Owner Helen Connelly cuddles her injured cat. Vets bills have already reached £300 and more treatment is needed
Mike Flynn, the Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent, said animals like cats are the 'most common target' of malicious airgun attacks.
He added: 'This incident is another sickening example of a defenceless animal being injured as a result of airgun misuse and goes to highlight the need for a total ban on airguns in Scotland.'
Inspector Stewart Hurry, of Strathclyde Police, said: 'These are cruel and dangerous actions by the person firing a weapon of this type in a public place.
'I am horrified that anyone would injure any animal in this way and we are keen to identify the individual who may be responsible.
'This is totally unacceptable behaviour and we will what we can to find out whoever is responsible and take whatever action is necessary.'
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