A MUM of two has slammed 'mindless' thugs who shot her two little kittens with an air rifle.

One of the 10-month old cats was so badly hurt in the close range attack that it lost an eye.

And now owner Amanda Tomlinson, of Ingleborough Road, Scale Hall, asks: "If these people shoot at little kittens what will they shoot at next?

"Will they shoot at dogs or will they start shooting at small children? It is disgraceful if they get a kick out of this behaviour they must be psychos."

Both Sooty and Lalen were shot on the same day last week.

Amanda told the Citizen: "The vet says that one of the cats was shot in the face from very close range. It was quite possibly picked up and held while someone shot it. These people make me sick."

Amanda says her 12-year-old daughter Emma was physically sick when she got home from school to find little Sooty had lost an eye.

A spokesman for Lancaster police says: "These are sickening crimes. It's animal cruelty at its very worst."

Heather Holmes of the RSPCA says that unfortunately this sort of attack is increasingly common - and she desperately wants to see the culprits caught.

"We are getting increasing reports of this sort of attack on animals. All we know is that this is despicable and premeditated and the people really do need to stop causing this horrendous suffering to animals.

"If people know of this please contact police and help stop it."

To help police, call 01524-63333 or contact the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800-555111.