Hi my name is Jess and I’m fundraising for our family cat, Linny.

Linny is five years old, was a house cat, but when he was 2 he escaped. He was missing for nearly a year. After looking, posting on local Facebook groups, checking at vets, posters, everything we naturally assumed the worst and decided he wouldn’t be coming home.

Miraculously, 12 months later, a lovely lady who lived nearby saw him visiting her garden and managed to catch him and alas, Linny returned home.

Linny wasn’t the same when he got back. I guess a year of sleeping rough does that to a cat. He refused to use the litter tray and peed all over the house. My mum spoke to the vets for advice who suggested to try letting him outside.

He went outside, just stood there, and came back in. After a few attempts Linny learnt to go outside / keep by the door when he needed the toilet and he would wait patiently by the door when he finished his business and come back in.

He is now just 95% house cat.

Fast forward 2 years later Monday 7th September, my mum let Linny out for his morning wee, and about 20 minutes later he came home COVERED in blood.

My mum panicked, rushed him to the vet, who has now confirmed he has been hit at nearly point blank range with an air rifle.

He had an x-ray yesterday before coming home (stable and eating normally) before another vets more equipped to operate would see him.

He was taken there last night, had his MRI today and will be operated on tomorrow.

The police have been called, we have given a statement. Sadly there is nothing they can do.

We have been told he might not survive the operation.

If the pellet remains he will get lead poisoning and die.

Putting him to sleep isn’t an option for us. We can’t lose him again.

He is the most lovely friendly cat ever, and even with all this trauma, the vets can’t get over how friendly and lovely he still is.

Please help us pay for his extortionate vet care and keep him in your thoughts and prayers ❤️