A SIDCUP woman says her family has been left "shocked" and "sick" after their two cats were both shot within a week.

Eight-year-old Twiglet, a bengal snow leopard, returned to his home in Sandhurst Road with a limp and a hole in his back paw on July 4.

His owner Amanda Sutton said: "The vet told us he couldn't have caught it on anything and it remained a mystery.

"A week later our second cat, Buster, came in and couldn't walk, his paw was all floppy."

The bengal cross, also aged eight, was taken to the vets where a bullet was discovered inside his leg.

Mrs Sutton, a mother-of-four, said: "The fact they both have been shot and it's a week apart means it's not a random attack.

"I have spoken to my neighbours and they are very concerned because they all have cats. No one has any idea who it could be."

The 46-year-old added: "It makes you feel sick to think someone could do it deliberately.

"The fact it's a human that's hurt them is worse than another animal doing it.

"The children are really shocked that someone could do this."

Buster must be kept still for a month while he recovers so has been temporarily put into a cattery in Bromley.

Mrs Sutton does not believe children are responsible for the attacks.

She said: "It must be someone who knows what they are doing because the cat's legs are a hard target and they move quite fast."

Police are investigating the incidents.

Anyone with information should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.