Wagaman resident Kara Mills walked into her backyard late on Saturday night after she heard a cat crying.
Ms Mills said she found her beloved Munchkin on the other side of the fence with an arrow sticking out of her.
She picked her up and took her straight to The Ark Animal Hospital in Palmerston, where she was treated by the on-call vet.
Dr Stephen Cutter said the four-year-old cat was “remarkably lucky” to escape serious injury.
“There was an entry and exit hole,’’ he said. “The arrow skidded along her chest but it didn’t penetrate into the chest cavity.”
Dr Cutter said the arrow missed the cat’s organs, causing only skin and muscle tissue damage.
Munchkin was returned into the care of her owner yesterday and is expected to make a full recovery.
Ms Mills told the NT News she was still in shock.
“I can’t believe someone would go around shooting an innocent cat,’’ she said. “They’re mongrels.”
Ms Mills said the red arrow — which became dislodged on the way to the vet — was a child’s toy, but still managed to inflict a lot of damage on her pet.
Darwin duty officer Del Jones said police had launched an investigation into the incident.
“It’s extremely concerning that someone’s undertaking such dangerous activities in the suburbs,’’ she said.
Dr Cutter said it was worrying to know there was someone “running around with a weapon”. This is the second time in three months a cat has been hunted in Darwin using a bow and arrow.
In May a black tomcat died after an arrow became lodged at the back of its jaw. The three-year-old was taken to The Ark but died after surgery because of hemorrhaging.
Dr Cutter said he had also heard reports a sea eagle had been sighted at Corroboree Billabong with an arrow lodged in its body.
Dr Cutter said he had not heard of any other instances of animal cruelty involving an arrow.
(Courier Mail - Aug 16, 2015)
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