A CAT owner has been left “feeling sick” after someone shaved patches of fur off her beloved pet.

Loura Rose has warned other cat owners to beware after her three-year-old moggy Escher came home with shaved patches.

Loura, 34, who lives in the Horns Road area of Stroud, near the hospital, said: “When she came in early afternoon on the second of January, I noticed patches of fur missing.

“Escher was having a cuddle with me the night before and there was nothing amiss then so I think it was done the morning of the second, maybe very early hours.

“Her fur is very dense, the patches that are missing are very ridged and would perfectly fit a clipper head.

“Thankfully she didn't appear hurt but just the thought of someone doing that to her makes me feel sick.”

This follows a number of cat owners across the district reporting that their pets had been shaved last year.

Loura added: “I've had cats all my life but I've thankfully never experienced anything like this before – I was shocked to discover that there was a spate of it last year.

“Whoever has done this obviously doesn't understand how wrong it is. I hope no other cat has to go through this again.”

Loura said it was possible the person who shaved Escher was trying to check whether the cat had been neutered or spayed in order to steal her to sell on for breeding.

However, it could just be a cruel prankster, she added.