East Lothian woman suspects cat was kicked to death - and helps raise £200 for animal hospital where vets tried to save him

An East Lothian woman suspects her cat was deliberately kicked to death and has helped to raise £200 for the animal hospital charity where vets tried to save him.

Sammy Mclean, of Tranent, said her four-year-old cat Billy was taken to the Edinburgh PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) Pet Hospital in Gorgie on Friday with severe trauma and was struggling to stand and breathe.

Despite an operation, the cat suffered brain damage and a decision was made to euthanize the animal.

Miss Mclean said: “I’m gutted, truly. I am more devastated at the fact someone would do such a thing to a defenceless cat, or any animal. He fought hard but unfortunately it was too much for the wee fella’ in the end.”

Billy had to be euthanized. Pic: Sammy Mclean

Miss Mclean believes that, although she could not prove what happened, the cat would have had puncture wounds and bite marks had it been attacked by a dog and would not have survived being hit by a vehicle.

She said the trauma was to the cat’s underside, lungs and chest and she believes someone has put their foot under him with force.

Despite her loss, Ms Mclean wants to highlight the “amazing and dignified treatment” given to her pet by vets at the PDSA vet charity. She has shared a link to the charity on her Facebook page and helped to raise £200 for them.

After the operation on Monday, she said the cat’s heart stopped and that this caused brain damage. The cat was resuscitated but started to seize and the vet told her there were obvious signs his brain was starved of oxygen. At this point, a decision was made to euthanize.

Miss Mclean has also warned other pet owners living in the Muirpark area of Tranent to be aware.

It comes amid another Scottish SPCA investigation into a video shared online which appeared to show a man kicking a cat in the East Craigs area of Edinburgh.

The footage shows the man carrying what looks like an animal by the scruff of the neck before turning and launching it into the air. He is then seen leaving the area before returning and throwing a large green plastic bin into the garden of the home earlier this year.

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