OPTIMISM about starting a new life together in Wirral turned to horror for a New Brighton couple when their pet cat was shot, leaving them with a massive bill for veterinary treatment, which failed to save his life.

Rescue cat Sooty was left in overnight agony when an airgun pellet ripped into its intestines. Nicola Latham and her partner Bob Waas said when they went out to look for him they heard an agonised yell, which they said sounded like a death cry, but they were unable to find their pet in the dark.

Now, because of a £500 vet's bill, they have been forced to abandon plans for a new nursery for their imminent first child.

After fighting for his life for several days Sooty died over the weekend.

Nicola, 30, said: "After the treatment Sooty had a huge gash down one side. I want to let responsible people know of the horrible consequences of such actions."

Sooty went missing last Monday and by 11pm the couple were getting seriously worried about him.

Nicola recalled: "Bob and I went out to look for him. I have a whistle he responds to and I could hear him in the distance sounding in distress.

"As we got closer we heard an agonised yell - it sounded like a death cry - and then silence. Next day Sooty made his way home. He was found under a bush."

Nicola took Sooty to the vet's where it was discovered that an airgun pellet had penetrated his intestines and caused severe damage, leading to acute peritonitis.

She said: "The vet had to operate and it was a very traumatic operation. Our other cat Orange spends the whole time looking at the cat flap waiting for Sooty to come home."

Nicola disclosed: "We are about to have out first child and money had been set aside for a nursery; but this must now be spend on vet bill, which makes us pretty miserable."

She added: "We were originally from Lancashire and spend 12 years in Liverpool and we were optimistic about a new life in Wirral. There are lots of places for the cats to play and we thought it would be a nice place to bring up a child. We can't believe this is happening to us; we feel devastated."