A HEARTBREAKING story about the tragic death of a much loved moggy has prompted a kind stranger to offer a £250 reward for information.

A family from Lydford have been left devastated by the loss of Skomie who died after a being shot by an air rifle.

Missing for three days the cat made it across fields to get back home with a pellet lodged in its spine but was too poorly to be saved.

Angry and upset by the lost of his companion, the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote an emotional message on his blog and one reader was so moved he has offered a £250 reward for information that would lead to a prosecution.

The Plymouth resident and cat lover said: ‘I read the story and I was in floods of tears. What happened to this lovely little cat was horrendous. The beautiful words that were written and the anger and upset it had caused just compelled me to get in touch and do something. I thought I can’t bring the cat back but perhaps this reward would help find who did such a monsterous thing.’

The blog said: ‘It takes a special kind of person to take aim at a cat. To notice the collar around its neck. The collar that says he has a home. A home where he is loved and adored. A home he worked so hard to get back to...

...He came home for help. We couldn’t give him that help. Despite rushing him to the vets, and earlier signs that he could be driven to Bristol for neurological surgery, we had to make a painful decision. Little Skomie was put to sleep....

...Just thinking about it hurts. You had no right to take Skomie away from me. I’ve lost a little mate. A companion. A sounding board. He may have been small but he filled a massive part of my life.’

A Justgiving page set up by the family to raise money for the Cats Protection League has already seen many donations.

‘The vets told us Skomie used up all his energy getting home,’ said his owner. ‘He spent three nights in the rain and crawled back homwithout the use of one of his rear legs — that is testament to the amount of fight he had in him.

‘He tried so hard to get back so we set up a Justgiving page so he didnt die in vain. I know people don’t have much money right now but I thought that perhaps £3 would be a fitting donation — a pound for every year of Skomie’s life.

‘We are really grateful to the person who offered the £250 reward. The reaction we have had just shows that the majority of people out there are good people.’

Although the incident has been recorded as criminal damage (ref 54109/20), the police confirmed that they were not persuing the incident because there were no lines of enquiry.

Anyone with information can call 07421 068833.