A CAT who has already beaten the odds to survive dreadful injuries has had to endure one further painful operation.

Sooty, a family pet who was blasted by a trainee gamekeeper's shotgun seven years ago, had her second eye removed by a vet.

She still has 42 pieces of gunshot in her head and body but enjoys being taken on walks by her owner, Carol Monkhouse, from Frosterley, County Durham.

Mrs Monkhouse said: "I cried because I found it so hard to look at my cat with no eyes, but she was totally blind before it was removed.

"We love Sooty so much we would do anything to keep her alive. Our vet's bills are tremendous but it wouldn't matter what it cost us, she is worshipped.

"When Sooty sits on my lap purring I know she is happy. She has adjusted to being blind."

Sooty has collected a string of bravery awards following the shooting, which happened when the young gamekeeper aimed at a rabbit in a field near the Monkhouses' home.

After a court case, when the gamekeeper was acquitted on a cruelty charge, Mrs Monkhouse bombarded his employers, the Maktoum family, with letters, photographs and x-rays of her pet's injuries.

The National Cat Club named Sooty one of the bravest cats of 1997 and the Silver Hearts national charity sent her a rosette.

Marks and Spencer singled out Sooty as a Cat of Courage, sending her a certificate and her favourite cat food.

So many animal lovers contacted Mrs Monkhouse after the shooting that new homes were found for 84 cats and kittens.