A Derby man has reported his children are deeply traumatized after discovering that their cherished family cat, Bamsi, was shot with an air rifle in a city suburb. Zahid Mahmood, a lifelong Derby resident, expressed his shock and dismay at the cruelty inflicted upon his two-year-old cat, who was found with pellet wounds last week.
Initially, Mr. Mahmood thought Bamsi’s injuries were due to a cat fight. An emergency vet’s preliminary assessment supported this, but a subsequent examination at Bamsi’s regular veterinary practice near Littleover revealed two pellet wounds—one in the stomach and one in the leg. The injuries were confirmed to be from an air rifle.
Fortunately, Bamsi was insured, covering the extensive veterinary costs which exceeded £5,000. However, the cat will need to remain in a cage for the next eight weeks to recover, with ongoing care from Mr. Mahmood and his family. The incident has left them in shock, particularly affecting Mr. Mahmood’s children.
Mr. Mahmood recounted the distressing situation, saying, “My kids were quite traumatized by this. We initially withheld the full details, but they have slowly been informed. The thought of someone having a rifle in our area is terrifying. If they can shoot a cat, they could shoot a person.”
He further expressed his anger and sadness, reflecting on the changing nature of safety in society. “You expect to be safer in England compared to other parts of the world, but these incidents make you realize that you have to be more vigilant than before,” Mr. Mahmood added.
Mr. Mahmood suspects that Bamsi was shot from close range, possibly in one of the large gardens typical of Littleover’s detached and semi-detached houses.
Derbyshire police have acknowledged the report and are investigating the matter. A police spokesperson stated, “Derbyshire police can confirm that enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding a cat being injured in Littleover. Anyone with information should contact the police using the crime reference number 24000430162 or incident number 926-190724.”
Residents with any information about the incident are encouraged to reach out to Derbyshire police through the provided contact methods.
