A CAT lost an eye and another may suffer the same fate after they were both shot in the face with an air rifle.

Police in York have appealed for help as they investigate the double shootings, which happened in the Huntington Road area earlier this week.

The owner of one of the cats is appealing for money for a reward to catch those responsible and has also launched an online petition calling for a ban on the sale and use of such weapons.

Dean Cooper and Rachael Hughes said their cat Sosuke, who is almost one year old, was shot in the face, with the pellet entering just above his eye.

"The vets have managed to save his eye for the time being," said Rachael.

He said Sosuke had been missing overnight and their fears had been growing when he got a call from Rachael.

"She had heard him coming up the stairs and he just collapsed on the landing,” he said.

“She noticed blood on his face and took him to the vets, and they said someone else's cat had suffered the same sort of injuries, but had lost his eye."

The appeal, at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/rachael-hughes, had raised £507 towards its £600 target by yesterday afternoon.

The petition can be found at www.change.org/p/rachael-banning-the-sale-and-use-of-air-and-gas-powered-weapons