A vital half an inch of muscle has saved Sooty the cat from serious injury.

She is the second cat in a fortnight from the Ingrow area to have been shot with an air rifle.

The first was not so lucky. The animal, whose owner lives in Greystones Drive, was shot in the chest and died.

Sooty's owner, Madge O'Dwyer, of Staveley Road, let the seven-year-old tortoiseshell out on Wednesday night last week, only to find her lying in the garden the next morning.

Sooty was in too much pain to have the pellet removed until Monday, after a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

Madge, who has another cat called Thomas, will have to take Sooty back to the vets every two days for injections and later to have stitches removed.

She says: "It's disgusting that someone could do this. Our cats don't even wander about. The only reason we let them out at night is that they scratch the wallpaper off."

Vet Peter Eccles, of Airedale Veterinary Group, Devonshire Street, Keighley, treated both Sooty and the cat that died.

He says the pellets used in both incidents are unusual in that they are blunt. Most air rifle pellets are pointed.

Mr Eccles adds: "The first cat was shot in the chest. This allowed air into the chest.

"There is normally a vacuum around the lungs allowing them to inflate. If this collapses there is nothing to hold the lungs out and the cat can't breath.

"Sooty's pellet was embedded in the muscle, half an inch from the spine. If it had gone further it could have caused damage to the vertebra."

The police have been informed of the incident.

Sergeant Allan Gee, of Keighley police, says: "Cats are people's property. If someone shoots one it's damaging that property and they are liable for criminal damage. It is also inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals. We are pursuing this matter."

This is the latest in a recent spate of reports of air rifle shootings in the Brackenbank and Ingrow area.

A spokesman for the RSPCA says: "This is a shocking and horrific attack on an animal unable to defend itself.

"We would appeal to anybody who might have witnessed it to contact the RSPCA on 08705 555999 so we can investigate."