A Burton cat owner has told of her upset after her pet returned home covered in blood with many of his claws missing.
She fears it may have been done deliberately as all the claws on his back paws and one from a front paw are missing.
Black and white cat Apatchy does roam and returned home blood-soaked and in agony, she said.
His owner, who has declined to be named but lives in Broadway Street area of Burton fears it may have been done deliberately as Apatchy has so many claws missing.
She says she could understand if Apatchy had pulled out one or two claws while out climbing trees or even fighting as cats often do, but him having so many missing seems strange to her.
She said she was left "devastated" after Apatchy came home with matted blood in his fur and limping on his back legs.
The owner said she noticed the seven-year-old moggie sat in her garden looking "nervous" on Thursday, June 7, after being missing for several days.
When the pet hastily approached the back door, the resident said he had holes in his paws where each claw had been pulled out on his two back legs as well as one claw on the front.
She said: "He didn't come home for three days then somebody said the neighbours said he was at the end of the garden.
"He was walking funny and there was dried-up blood all over his paws.
"What's happened is someone's ripped all his back claws out. Someone has ripped one out his front too.
"When I saw him outside I thought 'what the...?
"He hasn't been the same since. He's been nervous and he's in agony".
It is illegal to de-claw cats', but the practice did sometimes used to take place with owns keen to prevent their pets scratching furniture and carpets.
She claimed: "It's sick-minded people targeting the area. It makes me feel absolute anger. Cats need to scratch. It's their survival balance."
It comes as another resident on Broadway Street has told the Burton Mail her cat had also been attacked in the area.
The pet-owner said a couple of months ago her cat showed up at the back door dowsed in black paint.
She said: "I thought it was oil and it wasn't. When I tried to wipe it, it wouldn't come off.
"It was definitely black spray paint. He's been coming back with sores on him too.
"I know he fights but not with gashes like that. This is what the vet said."
The de-clawing of cats is illegal in the UK, with the practice carrying up to a £20,000 fine.
It is regarded as animal abuse as the procedure involves the amputation of claw and bone and can cause a great deal of distress and pain to the cat.
