An Inverness mum has claimed that her pet cat was left “trembling and traumatised” after heartless thugs pinned it down and painted it blue.
Luisadh Baldie said her 13-year-old son became distressed when he saw the cherished pet, which is named Yoda and known to be “very trusting”, limping home after its suspected ordeal.
Ms Baldie, of Culdthel Road in the Hilton area of the city, described the effects on Yoda as she offered her thoughts on what must have happened.
She said: “My son saw the cat coming home and was quite distressed.
“Yoda is trembling and traumatised, normally he is the most affectionate of cats but today he just won’t come near us.
“He has got marks around the back of his head and to me it looks like that is where someone or something has held him down.
Local and Proud: Follow our new Facebook page dedicated to the Highlands and Islands
“The fur has been worn away around his paws as if someone was holding him, or he was struggling to get away.”
She added: “The vet said they will be able to remove the paint, but due to the cost we need to wait until Monday.
“In the meantime I have been trying to take the worst of the paint off. It is not proving a very easy job. He is absolutely covered in paint.
“I have been trying to clean him, and put a cone on him to stop him trying to remove the paint by licking himself.”
Ms Baldie last night voiced concerns that the incident was part of a string of attacks on cats in the neighbourhood.
She claimed that pets have been left timid and fearful after undergoing similar ordeals, believed to last a number of hours, where they are sprayed with paint.
The mum said that it was only after posting online about Yoda’s experience that other people came forward to say their feline friends had suffered similarly.
Ms Baldie has reported the matter to the police and to the RSPCA.
She added: “Whoever did this deserves to be caught.
“I still can’t quite believe what has happened.
“It makes me so angry to think that someone has done this, and continued to do it even after the cat must have been squealing in pain. It is sick.”