Salina Police are investigating after a house cat is shot by a pellet gun.

According to Captain Mike Sweeney, Jamie Vigil went to visit a friend Friday in the 1100 block of North 11th and took her male cat with her.

She told officers she let the cat out for a bathroom break and a short time later saw the grey cat return in great distress.

Vigil took her pet to a veterinarian who found 3 lead pellets in the cat’s abdomen.

The cat died at the clinic.