The apparent random attacks, which happened less than 24 hours apart, in Hillneuk Drive and Greenside, Bearsden on April 22 and 23, left one pet writhing in agony after being shot at close range in the chest.

Another lost an eye after a pellet embedded in its skull in an earlier attack, on April 8. All the cats were treated at Glenbrae Veterinary Clinic in Bearsden.

Practice owner Wendy McGrandles said: "It is unfortunately very common for cats to be shot, but we rarely get three so close together. The pain these cats went though must have been excruciating."

Echoing recent calls in the Scottish Parliament for new laws on air weapons, she said: "I just want to bring awareness of this issue. It is farcical that these weapons are out there. If you want to shoot then you should join a club. These guns are lethal and should not be on our streets."

She also revealed that when she x-rayed Elvis — the cat from Greenside -she discovered an old pellet from about a year ago.

Catherine Anderson from Hillneuk Drive, was looking after her son's two-year-old cat Snowie when it was shot.

She said: "I knew something was wrong when he started to drag himself along the carpet on his tummy.

"He must have been shot nearby, because he would not have been able to get back here in that state. He was clearly in pain, but is alright now. It is shocking to think people would do this.

"I have grandchildren and they could have been hit as well. I don't know who did this or why, someone just took a pot shot at Snowie sometime between 6pm and 7.30pm when a lot of children are still out playing. The police need to catch this person, because next time a child may be caught in the crossfire."