EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUP
A miracle cat had an amazing escape - after surviving a brutal crossbow attack.
Sooty, who lives with his owner, Stuart Benson, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was completely speared by the weapon.
The ten-year-old’s kidneys and bowel were punctured in the horrific incident - he was found cowering in a wheelie bin, with the arrow sticking out of his tiny body.
Pensioner Stuart, 72, rushed Sooty to his local vets in a desperate bid to save his life.
Stuart said: “When we looked at him we thought that he had an arrow sticking out from a bow and arrow.
“But when we looked closer, we realised that he had been hit by a crossbow. We took him to the vets straight away.”
Practice manager, Louise Gwyn, said: “We found the arrow had gone through his abdominal wall, with an exit wound close to his tail.”
Vets carried out an emergency five-hour operation and managed to remove the deadly weapon.
“Vets Peter and Caroline then had the major task of removing his damaged kidney and repairing his bowel,” Louise adds.
“This had to be carried out carefully so as not to cause any contamination from his bowel.
“At each stage of surgery, the arrow was withdrawn carefully and slowly to avoid any further damage.”
Stuart spent £5,000 on Sooty’s care and amazingly, the cat is now back at home and expected to make a good recovery.
Mr Benson says it was a terrifying experience, especially for his granddaughters 18-year-old Abbi and 17-year-old Izzy both of whom live with him.
“It was scary for the girls they were really shocked,” he says.
“You don’t wake up one morning and think that someone is ever going to shoot your cat with a crossbow.
“He’s definitely used up one of his nine lives.
“When we found him he must have been terrified and in so much pain.
“We’re just really glad to have him home safely and hoping to see him back on his feet soon.”
Where: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
When: 26 Jul 2024
Credit: Cover Images
**EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**