A cat was found dead with a gunshot in her chest on Thursday.
The body was found in the street at 12pm in Cranfield Drive, Colindale by a member of the public, who took the body to a vet.
The gunshot was had both entry and exit wounds, and was shot through the side of the cat’s chest.
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Nicole Broster said: ““The injury is horrific and the weapon used could have been very powerful, or fired at close range, as there is a clear entrance and exit wound.
“We are uncertain at this stage which type of gun was used as in previous incidents I have investigated involving air rifles the pellets are usually still lodged in the body.”
The owner is still being searched for as the young cat was not micro-chipped, and is not believed to have been dead for long when she was found.
The penalty for using an air rifle on an animal can be £20,000 or six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act.
Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA inspectorate line on 0300 123 8018.
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