A MENSTRIE family was horrified to learn their cat would have its leg amputated after it was shot with an air rifle.

Seven-year-old Bella has always been an outdoor cat and has never had any issues. However, on Friday, May 7 when she returned home, owner Scott MacDonald noticed she was limping quite heavily.

Scott initially thought she had been hit by a car and immediately took her to Betavet in Alloa.

However, he was horrified to be told on his return that Bella had been shot with an air rifle, and her front left leg would require amputation.

The other family cat, Ziggy, has been missing since the beginning of February and the family are worried she wasn't so lucky in making it home.

Scott said: "They're both outdoor cats and we don't know if it's connected. There are other cats that have been missing in the area.

"Ziggy and other cats might not have been so lucky if this is happening and Bella's maybe one of the lucky ones that's managed to come home."

The family, friends and the whole village is in complete shock. Scott's family have lived in Menstrie for seven years and have never heard of anything like this happening.

"It could have been somebody's dog," Scott continued. "It could have been even worse, it could have been a kid, anything could have happened."

Thankfully, Bella is now on the road to recovery and is eating some food; however, her first night home was a long night for the family.

Scott continued: "The first night of us getting her back was horrendous, it was really bad.

"She was under anaesthetic so she'd fall asleep for a wee while then she would wake up totally erratic, really distressed and then she would just collapse and fall asleep again.

"As days have went on she's relaxed a little more, we're just keeping an eye on her."

The family are grateful to have the community rally behind them, and thanked Donna Dickie for starting a fundraiser to help with the vet bills.

A total of £280 was raised and handed in to Betavet to cover a huge portion of the family's vet bill.

"The response from the community has been overwhelming," Scott added. "Donna's been so good helping to get donations to help with the vet bill.

"People have been dropping off food for Bella, it's just unbelievable."

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: "At around 5.50pm on Friday, May 7, officers received a report of a cat being injured in The Charrier area of Menstrie.

"The incident is believed to have taken place between noon and 3.45pm earlier that day and it has been established that the pet had been shot with an air weapon.

"Enquiries into the matter are ongoing."

Visit facebook.com/donna.rescues to make a donation to Bella's vet bill.