A FAMILY in Lamberhurst has been left devastated, and stung with a £2,500 bill, after its home-loving pet cat was shot in the leg.

It had been a normal Saturday morning for the Archer family of Parsonage Lane until eight-year-old Isabelle found her cat Rose cowering in her room.

Isabelle's mother, Aveline said: "We were at home and Isabelle said that Rose was hiding behind her dolls' house, and was struggling to stand.

"We saw there was blood and the cat had injured its leg."

Isabelle's father, self-employed roofer Jamie, added: "My daughter said her tortoiseshell cat was making weird noises.

"We took it to the vet, who called us later to tell us staff found air rifle pellets in Rose's leg, which narrowly missed the heart, but completely shattered her leg."

Rose, two, was then rushed to a specialist vet in Surrey who battled for hours on Monday to save the leg.

The operation was successful but the friendly moggy is now facing a daunting three months of recovery, wearing a leg brace with pins and living in a cage to restrict its movement.

The family has also been landed with a £2,500 vet bill.

Mrs Archer, a nursery teacher, added: "The operation went well but we just want Rose home now.

"We'll have to find the money to pay the bill, although the cost isn't important compared to having our cat back.

"We are shocked, because our cat was shot in our own garden.

"We own Rose's sister, Socks and she is a hunter who travels for miles. But Rose is a homebody and never wants to leave our garden."

With a host of other pets including a spaniel, Mrs Archer said that the incident had made them nervous about letting their animals outside.

She said: "How can anyone use a firearm against a living creature?

"We want whoever did this to be ashamed, and face up to the fact they have shot a little girl's pet cat."

The incident, which took place between 8 and 10am on Saturday is now being investigated by Kent Police.

PC Thomas Farley said: "This is an act of mindless violence, preying on a defenceless animal, causing it unnecessary distress and pain.

"We will be doing everything we can to bring the offenders to justice and I am appealing to anyone in the area at the time who may know how the incident occurred to come and talk to myself in confidence on 01892 502021."

Alternatively, people can contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference YY/2292/12.