My cat's been shot with an airgun pellet!

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I wanted to tell you what's happened to my cat, Mia, who is 4 years old.

On Tuesday evening, Mia was dragging her back left leg behind her; it felt hot to the touch and she just stayed lying down, even though she usually runs all over the place. On Wednesday morning, we went to the vet who told us that Mia has an airgun pellet in her sciatic nerve! Someone actually shot her! The vet said she might regain the use of her leg in two years' time! The vet's prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for her, to be taken morning and night. I just don't understand why anyone would shoot a poor cat, and I really hope Mia is going to be okay!

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    • M
    Mike64 Icon representing the flag French
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    Apparently some vets use metal detectors for cows... there might be one near you who has one... When my cat had an airgun pellet in him, you could definitely feel it... a hard lump. If you can't feel anything around the wound, there’s no real reason to worry...
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    You get the same idiots in town... and among the adults too, unfortunately. My neighbours don't even say hello, the kids press their faces against the window to stare into your house, and you can hear every phone conversation the neighbours have. One day, one of them practically accused me of stealing his daughter’s cat—even though it was my own cat I was holding in my arms! He couldn't even recognise the poor thing. The dogs, the kids, and the parents alike... they all lack any manners 🙄

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks Monique for your help! I'm sorry to hear that this sounds familiar to you... I’m asking because I’ve found some pellets in the rendering on the front of my house, and it's made me think about a wound my cat had a few weeks ago. The vet and I just assumed she’d been in a fight and she’s been fine since, but finding this (between 20 and 30 holes in the wall with pellets still embedded in them) has really made me wonder. I wanted to know how I can find out for sure without necessarily having to go for scans, short of taking her through the security scanners at the supermarket! 😅
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    M
    Mike64 Icon representing the flag French
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    @Grumeau

    I’m replying to your questions because a few years ago I went through the same thing with two of my cats... back then, some young idiots were using cats for target practice because there wasn't any game around... I live out in the countryside...

    For one of them, the pellet was just under the skin on his throat and the vet found it during the check-up; he removed it under anaesthetic.

    The other one, a female, had a broken leg... she had to have an X-ray, and you could see the fractured bone but also loads of pellets in her leg... he used the X-ray, then she had surgery to remove the pellets and reset the fracture.

    In my opinion, a metal detector would pick up the pellets but wouldn't show their exact location in the cat’s body...

    Regarding your second question, the issue is knowing where the pellet is located. Just like with us, a pellet is a foreign body and can move around... so if it’s in a spot where it could cause damage, it’s best to have it removed...

    So, there you go.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    How is your cat doing?

    Sorry for reviving an old thread, but if you don't mind, I have two questions about this:

    1. Do you know if vets use metal detectors, or is it necessary to use imaging like X-rays to find a pellet in the body?

    2. If no organs are hit, can the cat live with it in their body, or does it have to be removed?

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks, I hope so too

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    Lilamande
    Lilamande Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, you’re right, there really are some heartless people out there who hurt animals, but at least it’s punishable by law nowadays. Wishing the little kitty a speedy recovery.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Wishing your kitty a speedy recovery; I hope she’ll be able to use her leg again within two years.

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, unfortunately 😔, thank you very much

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    Gabyn
    Gabyn Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m so sorry to hear this, but unfortunately, there are sick people everywhere – individuals who take in dogs and cats just to torture them, who leave out poisoned bait or traps, or even shoot at anything that moves, whether it’s out of pure malice or for some twisted "fun"... I hope the little one makes a speedy recovery.
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