A TRANENT woman whose cat was allegedly “kicked to death” has raised more than £200 for the charity that tried to save him.

Sammy Mclean took her four-year-old cat Billy to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) pet hospital in Edinburgh late last month with severe trauma and struggling to stand or breathe.

She said that he had been kicked so hard that parts of his diaphragm went up into his chest and there was also some fluid in his chest, he was on oxygen and without an operation he could die.

Despite having the operation, Billy suffered brain damage caused by his heart stopping.

He was resuscitated but the vet told Sammy there were obvious signs that his brain was starved of oxygen, so a decision was made to euthanise him.

Sammy said: “I’m gutted, truly. I am more devastated at the fact someone would do such a thing to a defenceless cat, or any animal.

“He fought hard but unfortunately it was too much for the wee fella in the end.”

Sammy said that her cat had been deliberately “kicked to death” as the trauma was to Billy’s underside, lungs and chest.

She believes someone put their foot under him with force.

Sammy also believes that – although she cannot prove what happened – the cat would have had puncture wounds and bite marks had it been attacked by a dog and would not have survived being hit by a vehicle, which would also have resulted in specific injuries.

Despite losing her cat, Sammy wanted to highlight what she described as “amazing and dignified treatment” given to pets by those at the charity, saying raising money for PDSA was “a gesture to show we care what they do, because without them, imagine how many animals would actually suffer”.

She added: “The PDSA do so much for the animals and really have their best interests at heart in the unexpected and worrying times when we need their help.

“If it wasn’t for them, a lot of families wouldn’t be able to give their beloved pets the treatment they need and get them back home where they belong.”

And as the hospital is funded purely by donations and public support, Sammy wanted to help others who had animals that might also need treated.

She set up a fundraiser on her Facebook page asking people to donate to PDSA and has raised £220.

Sammy said she was glad that Billy had touched so many hearts.