The Cats Protection charity is urging pet lovers to join the call to introduce air gun licensing in England, following in the footsteps of Scotland and Northern Ireland where it is illegal to own air weapons without licence.

The Government is currently holding a public consultation into air weapon regulation, including licensing, which closes on Tuesday, February 6.

More than three cats a week are reported as having been killed or injured by air guns countrywide.

Last February, Godalming teenager Franky Mills, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment at a young offenders institute for “cruel and callous behaviour”, after pleading guilty to shooting seven pet cats with an air rifle.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s head of advocacy and government relations, said: “Shocking air gun attacks are by no means rare.

“Our monitoring of UK press reports shows three cats are killed or injured by an air gun each week and this is likely to be an underestimate because most attacks are never witnessed or reported.

“Worse still, over 90 per cent of these shootings take place in England and Wales, where it is legal for anyone over 18 to purchase an air gun and ammunition without the need for a licence.

“These attacks cause immense pain and suffering to cats as well as anguish for their owners and fear for the safety of people and pets.

“Last year over 90,000 people signed our online and paper petition calling for the licensing of air guns in England and Wales, showing the depth of public feeling on the issue.

“Our hope is as many people as possible email the Government, we can make the whole of the UK a safer place for cats, animals and human beings.”

The charity believes if licensing were introduced, it would be easier to track down culprits.