A FAMILY'S pet cat has lost a leg after being hit by a blast from a shotgun.

But after having the leg amputated, Oscar has turned from a fun-loving, playful animal into a quiet, nervous creature.

His owners, who adopted him from the Blue Cross rescue centre in Burford a year ago, are horrified that anyone would point a lethal weapon at a pet and pull the trigger.

Mimi Newell, 22, said: "I think this is a horrific case of animal cruelty.

"Oscar is the most sweet-natured, adorable cat anyone could hope for and he didn't deserve this."

The incident happened a month ago and has been reported to police and the RSPCA. No one has yet been caught.

The family became worried when Oscar, who likes to roam in fields outside their home in Back Lane, Aston, failed to return for evening food.

He eventually returned at about 9.30pm, managing to pull himself up through a small window in the living room and dragging himself to his basket.

Miss Newell said: "We initially believed he had been in a car accident, but when we got to the emergency vet in Woodstock she said it looked as though he had run into some farm machinery.

"It was only 20 minutes after we got home that the vet phoned us and informed us that he'd been shot."

In an emergency operation the leg had to be amputated, which saved Oscar's life but, with aftercare, cost the family about £1,000.

Oxfordshire RSPCA press officer Sophie Wilkinson said there were very few reports of pets being injured or killed by shotguns.

She added: "But we do get reports of animals being shot with air weapons, that is the main kind of shooting offence.

"It's very distressing for owners. Unfortunately, deliberate attacks on cats are common and reports are going up dramatically."

Oscar , who is now back at home, was adopted as a playmate for the family's other cat Mercury.

"As a kitten, he was too much of a livewire for his first owners and was taken in by another family who had to get rid of him because their child developed an allergy," said Miss Newell.

"We just hope he gets back to his old self.

"I hope whoever did this will see what has happened and won't do it again."