AN air rifle pellet was found by vets when they operated on what they thought was an abscess on a cat’s back.

Voodoo, a mottled Tom cat, was taken to see the vet by his owner Andrew Graham after he found a lump.

Mr Graham thought the five-and-a-half year old feline had been in a injured in a fight near his home in Norfolk Grove, Church, on Saturday.

He took him to the vet as soon as he felt the lump but then went back as it had not healed.

Vets carried out exploratory surgery and discovered Voodoo had a pellet lodged near his rib cage in the middle of his back.

Voodoo has been left with a scar from his spine to his stomach.

Mr Graham, 29, said: “I thought that he had been in a fight when we saw the lump on his back.

“It wasn’t going down so we went back to the surgery. The vet carried out an operation and they found a large metal bullet. It looks like it’s from an air rifle.

“Voodoo goes out on his own around the area so I’m not sure where it happened.

“It is really annoying that someone has done this.

“I don’t see why or even the point of doing it.”

A police spokesman said: “It is a criminal offence to shoot animals and we would urge people to report any incidents of this nature to the police whether by calling 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”