A CHERISHED family cat has been targeted by a cruel animal abuser using home-made blowdarts.
The attacker crafted the darts from sharp wooden sticks fletched with bits of fluff so they can be blown with high velocity power through a tube.
Unlucky PJ the two year old black cat struggled home with three of the darts — looking like cocktail sticks but sharper — embedded in his body, shocking his owner who witnessed an identical attack on one of her pets five years ago.
Today the mother of two described the attack on PJ as “calculated” and said she was baffled why anyone would do something so cruel.
The woman, who does not wish to be named, from Bramcote, Nottingham, reported the blowdart attack on her calico pet cat called Fudge to police five years ago when the pet came home panicking and in pain with the darts embedded in her face and body.
She said: “The first time this happened I reported the matter to the police because I was concerned someone was targeting animals in the area.
“To be honest I thought it might be a child but for this to happen five years later makes me think it is not a child because you would have thought they would have grown up in that time.
“It just seems like it is a calculated attack and why anyone would want to do anything like this baffles me.
"But they have caused pain to both my cats and I just don’t want it happening to any other animals so want to warn others living nearby.”
The cat owner had let her PJ out in the morning as usual earlier this month and when he returned the three darts were sticking out of him.
She managed to pull them out and PJ has shown no ill effects.
Today the RSCPA released pictures of the home-made darts and both cats as investigators sought the culprit.
RSPCA Inspector Sarah Gardener, who is investigating the incident, said she has never witnessed anything like this attack before.
She said: “It is frightening to think that someone would have gone to this effort to make these blowdarts and then to actually use them on defenceless animals is appalling.
“It concerns me that other animals such as wildlife may have been attacked in this way, too.”
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.