A HORRIFIED family faces an anxious wait to see if its beloved pet will survive, after the cat was shot by a yob with an air rifle.

Lisa Fryer, 38, of Chestnut Road, Pitsea, was worried about tabby, Tinkerbelle when she did not come home for her tea.

She went out to look for the 11-month-old cat, and after a 40-minute search made a heartbreaking discovery.

Mrs Fryer said: "I found her crawling along. Her back legs had gone. She couldn't use them.

"She had blood under chin and we rushed her to the vet's where, after X-raying her, the vet confirmed she has been shot with an air-rifle.

"The pellet is still inside her".

Mrs Fryer has already paid £600 in vets' bills, but has been told if Tinkerbelle doesn't regain full use of her legs soon she may have to be put down.

She added: "We will have to wait until at least Friday to see if she regains the use of her back legs and the vet can take the pellet out.

"The vet says there's no obvious damage to her spine or her nerves and it could just be shock, but if she can't walk again she will probably have to be put down."

Mrs Fryer has reported the attack to the RSPCA and Basildon police.

She added: "They both admitted they couldn't do much unless I had some evidence of what happened and I can understand that.

"They both logged the incident and encouraged me come back if I found anything, but I'm not hopeful."

Tinkerbelle was discovered at 7pm on Monday evening in an alleyway near the Fryers' home.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Basildon police on 01268 532212.