A helpless rescue cat was put to sleep after being shot in the head in a "cruel and callous" attack.

Ekho, aged six, was spotted in distress by neighbours who saw her under the garden table at her home in Stanley Road, Benfleet. She had only been outside for a few hours.

Ekho went outside at 6.30am on Tuesday July 25. However, just a few hours later at 10am the worried neighbours contacted Ekho’s family to say she was under the garden table and looked in a bad way.

The family rushed her to a vet for treatment where a CT scan was carried out and it was discovered poor Ekho had been shot in the head. Vets sadly discovered two air gun pellets in her jaw and in her head.

Ekho’s owners then had to make the heartbreaking decision for her to be put to sleep as nothing more could be done to save her.

Th family are devastated and heartbroken by what has happened to their beloved Ekho, and the cat's son Loki is constantly looking for her and confused by why she is no longer there.

This is not the first cat that the family has had targeted - sadly 10 years ago their previous cat was also shot and had three pellets found in him. Fortunately, that cat was lucky and did survive. 

RSPCA animal rescue officer Jen Richardson  said: “It is devastating to hear what happened to poor Ekho and our hearts go out to her owners.

“This was a callous and cruel attack on a helpless and defenseless animal and I am horrified by what has happened.

“The family wants to make as many people aware as possible and we are investigating this and would urge anyone with information to call the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 in confidence quoting incident 01121778 or the police quoting reference  42/133525/23.”