POLICE were this week investigating a savage attack by a group of children on a cat which left its Wellington owner with a veterinary bill running into several thousands of pounds.

An online fund-raising campaign set up to help owner Kathy Millington, of Jurston Lane, has so far raised more than £1,000 towards bills totalling £3,500-plus.

Blue is a therapy pet for Ms Millington’s 15-year-old daughter Jessica, who has autism, and was originally an RSPCA rescue cat before she was re-homed in Wellington.

The three-year-old cat appeared to have been viciously kicked in the attack, which happened as she was being looked after by a friend while Ms Millington was away for a few days.

Wellington cat attack Kathy Millington Jessica
Kathy Millington’s daughter Jessica with Blue recovering at home. ( )

She was treated by staff at Mount Vets and needed to be fed through a tube because her stomach was so swollen.

Ms Millington said: “She got beaten black and blue, quite literally.

“How she is alive, I do not know.

“She had severe blunt trauma to her abdomen, upper chest, and jaw.

Wellington cat attack Kathy Millington Jessica
Jessica with Blue in the veterinary hospital. ( )

“Some of her bruises were purple, some blue, and some black, and I think she just got to the point where she collapsed.”

Ms Millington, who is a private care support worker, said Blue spent a week in the veterinary hospital and was still so traumatised she would not go near anybody except Jessica.

She still had fluid in her stomach which was causing a risk of infection and she was eating only a little at a time and clearly remained in ‘quite a lot of pain’.

Ms Millington said: “She has started to eat and drink. What an absolute warrior.

“She is so lucky to be alive and did not deserve what happened to her.”

A GoFundMe page was set up by Ms Millington’s friend Kelly Smith, of Gay Close, when she heard what had happened and is available for anybody to donate toward the veterinary bills for treating Blue.

Wellington cat attack Kathy Millington Jessica
Blue in the veterinary hospital. ( )

Nearly 100 people had already given sums of money at the time of going to press.

Ms Millington said the incident had been reported to the police, to the RSPCA, and to social housing landlord Sanctuary Housing.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers had attended Jurston Lane and house-to-house inquiries were being carried out in conjunction with the RSPCA as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

A spokesman said: “We would like to reassure people at this time we are not aware of any other incidents having recently occurred similar to this where an animal has been injured.”

Police asked anybody who may have witnessed the attack or who had any information to call 101 and quote the reference number 5223054860.

The online fund-raising page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/p8fz6-pay-the-vet-bills.