Dave the cat survives crossbow attack

A cat has survived a crossbow attack after the arrow narrowly missed the animal's arteries and vital organs. The veterinary surgeon who treated the pet, known as Dave, said its survival was "remarkable" as the 14 inch arrow went through its chest, missing its heart and lungs by just fractions of an inch.

The one-year-old cat went missing for a week before it struggled home to its owners, Andrew Childerhouse, 48, and his wife, Juliet, 46, in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk. It is believed to have survived for several days with the bolt inside its body.

"It was absolutely horrific," said Mr Childerhouse, a sign maker. "He was shot from very close range, probably about six feet. Who would do this to a cat? He is very friendly so somebody probably got very close and then let him have it."



The animal, who is the pet of the couple's daughters, Hannah, 12, and Phoebe, eight, was taken to the Mill House veterinary surgery in King's Lynn, Norfolk, where the bolt was removed. Sarah Colegrave, the veterinary surgeon, who treated the cat, said the bolt tip was relatively blunt, which meant it pushed the organs and main arteries out of the way.

She added: "We took an x-ray and it showed the arrow was going right through his thoracic cavity. One of the main problems was infection. As the arrow went in it pushed a lot if hairs and rubbish from the skin into the chest. The arrow came out fairly easily but it looked as if the skin was trying to heal around it so it must have been there for several days."

She added: "It is remarkable he survived really. If the arrow had gone through one of the big blood vessels he would have died. Dave is the most amazing little cat. He is on strong antibiotics now and we are keeping our fingers crossed he comes out of this okay."