A beloved Christchurch cat has survived a traumatic incident that left him with two gunshot wounds.

Gaya Lowe, the cat’s owner, was shocked when her feline companion dragged himself home last night in Harewood, bleeding and dragging his back legs.

Initially, she and her flatmate believed that the cat had been hit by a car and rushed him to the vet.

However, upon examination, the vet discovered puncture wounds and suspected that a dog had attacked the cat. X-rays revealed the true nature of the injuries: the cat had been shot twice.

Gaya said “according to the vet, this is unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence, with many such incidents involving children.”

The cat is now recovering but still has pellets lodged in his body.

Gaya said they’re waiting for the swelling to go down before determining if surgery is necessary.

They are hopeful that the cat will regain the use of his legs, as he currently has no feeling in his tail.

The vet bill for the emergency treatment came to $675.

Fortunately, their kind flatmate offered his credit card to cover the expenses, saying that the cat is part of their family.

The cat is well-known in the neighborhood for his friendly nature and affectionate personality.

Meanwhile Gaya is urging anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward.