Cat killer in spate of air rifle shootings in Carterton

A 'street surgery' meeting was held this week with police officers in attendance after two cats were injured in the same close around March in Carterton.

At least another three were shot last year.

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Mel McLoughlin is faced with a £4,000 vet's bill after her cat Jack, 10, was shot on March 26.

Speaking at the meeting this week, she said: "He was in the kitchen at about 8am and my husband saw him and then about 9.10am, I was in the hall and I heard this awful sound. He literally dragged himself back home.

Mel McLoughlin (Image: NQ staff)

"It was in broad daylight. We initially thought he’d been knocked by a vehicle or he’s a neutered cat and there’s been quite a few Toms around and we thought it might have been a fight or something.

"We rushed him over to the vets and then later in the day they called and said he’s been shot. The vet said to us it was a high velocity air rifle and looking at the injury it was done at close range."

The concerned cat lover continued: "What do I think of whoever's done this? Do you want the polite version? It’s incomprehensible.

"Basically the sort of elbow of his back leg, all the bone was completely shattered. He needed an operation and took the bullet out most of it – a little bit they had to leave as he was under for so long."

Jack had to have a metal plate fitted to avoid amputation.

Neighbour Tracey Timms-Wilson said she didn’t realise her cat had been shot at first.

“He did not come home looking like he was injured or upset but he was sat on my lap and I noticed there was a hard lump under the skin.

"The vet told me, I think it’s an air gun pellet. I think he’s been shot.”

The pellet was removed and at the second appointment the vet told them another lady had been in with the same thing.

"They said, we should tell the police, I said I've already done that."

Mrs McLoughlin and Mrs Timms-Wilson then put up posters and a message on a Carterton community Facebook group which received a host of comments.

“People were saying this has been going on for years. One person said between 2012 and 2020 their cat had been shot four times and the fourth time it died. One said their cat had been poisoned by anti-freeze.

“Someone from Shilton Park said their cat had been shot and that’s over the back fence.

“It’s awful really, terrible. There’s that, should I let them out or not. Even people round the corner have been contacting me asking whether they should let their cat out.

"We're just hoping that by letting these people know, they'll stop."

Police held the 'street surgery' to gather more information on Monday evening.

PCSCO Nick Morley (Image: NQ staff)

PCSO Nick Morley, based at Carterton, said: "We’ve received numerous reports regarding cats being injured in the local area with what’s believed to be an air rifle with varying degrees of injury and it seems to be geographically located in this area.

"We are urging people to come forward if this has happened to their cat or if they have any information they may feel is relevant or if they have any CCTV."

He added: "I don’t know that I can fully understand it. They are harmless animals at the end of the day."

And he said officers were also investigating a potential link between the recent attacks and a spate from previous years.

Anyone with information should contact 101 or the Carterton Neighbourhood Team nhpt@thamesvalley.police.uk