Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a cat was shot in Wokingham.

The owners first noticed Boff behaving in an unusually withdrawn manner on Tuesday, January 13 so believe he was shot either on the Monday or early that morning.

Geoff Dennis, Boff's owner, said: "It could be kids being kids and unpleasant or a frustrated gardener that doesn't like cats but you then have more sinister explanations.

"Obviously one of our current concerns is that this doesn't happen again or if there is a pattern the police are aware. If there's something really nasty going on we can help close the loop on it.

"Boff's a right tearaway, he and his brother, Percy, are young. He's a right bundle of chaos in the house."

The black and white cat left its owner’s home, in Nine Mile Ride, in the morning and went into the woods at the back of the house.

Boff, who will be two years old in April, returned with an air-rifle pellet wound in its abdomen, which has caused internal damage.

The cat is currently being treated at the local vets. The diagnoses doesn't look promising.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw someone with an air rifle in the woodland behind Nine Mile Ride.

Anyone with information should contact investigating officer PC Jennifer Savazzi, of Loddon Valley police station, via the 24-hour enquiry line 101.