THE owner of a cat that was shot in the head with a foot long crossbow bolt has slammed the “sick ” thug responsible.

Animal lover Sandra Grogan was left stunned when neighbours told her they had seen Spike the cat with the bolt embedded in its jaw.

Vets who operated on the pet say he escaped death by a whisker.

Speaking yesterday, shocked Sandra, from Bracewell Close in Sutton, told the Star: “It looks like he was either held down or trapped, because the bolt goes upwards through his nose at out the back of his head.

“The vet said he has used all of his nine lives at once because it missed his brain by a fraction. They don’t know how he survived.”

Disabled mother-of-three Sandra said Spike must have been shot around lunchtime on Tuesday (June 7).

A shocked neighbour had seen the wounded animal in his garden but could not catch him. The police and RSPCA were called and Spike was found five hours later by Sandra and friends.

She said: “Before he was taken to the animal hospital I got to give him a cuddle. There didn’t seem to be a lot of blood and he seemed so placid . I tickled him and he closed his eyes like he normally does. But he was in shock.

“They put him in a cat carrier and took him away and he is still at the vets. I don’t know how long he will be there.

“When we left him at 6.30pm the bill was £300, so we have no idea how much it will be.

“Luckily he will survive, but they don’t know what long term damage has been done to his jaw.”

Sandra said there was a real sense of disgust on the estate, adding: “I’m very angry and upset that some sick individuals can do this to a defenceless animal.

“And they are living among us. After all it could have been a child. We got Spike as a kitten from the Cats’ Protection League and he is very popular on this estate.”

Police have launched an investigation and the bolt has been retained for forensic examination.

Anyone who may have information or may have something suspicious are urged to contact police on 0151 777 6958 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.