AN animal lover who was moved to tears when reading about attacks on cats in the Hereford Times has had her own much-loved moggy shot.

Zoe Williams was traumatised to find her five-year-old ginger and white female cat Amber had been shot.

"I cried when I read in the Hereford Times about a cat that was shot and killed in an air rifle attack recently," said Zoe, who looks after Amber with mother Janet in Hinton Road.

"Amber could quite easily not have come home or be lying dead in someone's garden."

Amber was shot above the spine on Friday and is now recovering after being taken to the vets. She added the cat, who has a problem with her sight, is still traumatised and reluctant to leave the house.

"These animals are treasured family members and should not be used for target practice," she said.

Ailsa Main, who treated Amber at the Belmont Veterinary Surgery, said owners should report incidents to the police.

She said: "Every couple of weeks, we see a cat that has probably been shot.

"It's very distressing for owners to think someone has taken a pot-shot with the intention of hurting their cat."

House-to-house inquiries are being carried out and anyone with information can call police on 08457 444888.