Fears grow as another Sheffield resident comes forward after cat allegedly shot dead
Fears grow for shooter targeting cats in Sheffield village
“It’s scary, it could be a person next.”
Those are the words of Bradfield woman Lisa, who has spoken of the heartbreak of her daughter’s kitten, Snowball, allegedly being shot dead.
Lisa, said the recent shooting of another cat in the village, Groucho, had brought back memories of the moment her own family lost their beloved pet.
She said she has never had another cat because she fears the same thing could happen again.
Groucho was outside his home near Smallfield Lane on Friday evening (September 25) when his owner Samantha Sheldon heard a “huge bang”.
The 14-month-old was later found badly injured, with his right paw dangling and covered in blood.
Vets discovered shrapnel in his wound, chest and leg, while the tibia and fibula in his leg had been completely shattered.
His leg had to be amputated.
Lisa said the incident had brought back memories of her daughter’s kitten, Snowball, who was also shot.
“It was my daughter’s kitten, she was three or four when we got him. She was absolutely devastated,” she said.
Snowball was buried with his toys and a headstone, and Lisa said she has never given up hope of finding the person responsible.
Lisa said: “There was no malice in that cat.
“If he was eating biscuits outside and magpies came down to have a bit, he would just look at them.
“It’s cruel, just cruel - there was no reason to shoot him.”
She said the experience had left her so frightened that she has never got another cat.
“I’m sure it would just happen again,” she said.
Snowball was killed in June 2023, shortly after midnight.
Lisa recalled seeing CCTV which she said showed a rifle being shot at him from a car.
Snowball ran under a gate before dying underneath parked cars.
“I just want justice for Snowball.”
Police have not said whether the two incidents are connected.
Anyone with information about the shooting involving Groucho is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police, quoting incident number 0532 of September 26, 2026.
South Yorkshire Police said it received a report of a cat being fired at with a pellet gun between 7.30pm and 7.45pm on Friday.
Enquiries are ongoing.