THE relentless torture of a pet cat that was shot 27 times at point-blank range in the head and neck with an air rifle has outraged animal welfare authorities.

Possum, a two-year-old male domestic cat, somehow survived shocking cruelty after cowards trapped him in a cage about 9pm on Friday.

The gun was shoved in the animal’s face and mouth with two direct shots penetrating his tongue and lodging in his nasal cavity.

Police are investigating the violent attack on the cat, which will have surgery today to remove 15 remaining pellets.

Owner Jodi Mulley pulled out five of the pellets herself while seven other pellets that punctured the skin were not found.

It is believed the animal was caught in a cat trap somewhere at Portsmith and repeatedly shot with the slug gun. One lead pellet narrowly missed the cat’s jugular vein.

Ms Mulley rang four veterinarians who told her they would not see Possum unless they received a $150 emergency call-out fee.

"One vet told me if I didn’t take him to the vet ASAP, they would have me fined for trying to clean him up myself,’’ she said. "I spent the whole night crying because I thought my baby was going to die."

Greencross Veterinarians principal surgeon Max Fargher, who treated Possum around 1.30pm on Saturday, said: "The cat is going to be fixed regardless of the cost."

He said in 18 years working as a vet, he had never seen such a disturbing attack on an animal.

"In general, this is the worst episode of animal cruelty I’ve ever seen," he said.

An RSPCA spokesman said Possum’s incident was part of a new wave of animal cruelty cases reported in the past 12 months.

"We’ve had some instances in the last year where the level of violence has been taken to a new level," he said.

"The extent of the violence of the crimes is getting more intense."

Possum will undergo surgery today, estimated to cost $700.

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