Melbourne, Mar 2 (ANI): A pet cat named Possum miraculously survived 27 bullet shots at point-blank range in the head and neck.

The relentless torture on Possum has enraged animal welfare authorities, who have raised their voices against the inhuman cruelty.

The two-year-old male domestic cat was trapped in a cage about 9pm on February 27, and an air rifle was shoved in its face and mouth with two direct shots penetrating his tongue and lodging in his nasal cavity.

Police are investigating the violent attack on the cat, which has to get the 15 remaining pellets removed in a surgery.

Owner Jodi Mulley pulled out five of the pellets herself, while seven other pellets that punctured the skin were not found.

According to reports, the animal was caught in a cat trap somewhere at Portsmith, and repeatedly shot with the slug gun.

One of the lead pellets narrowly missed the cat's jugular vein.

After being turned down by four veterinarians, Greencross Veterinarians principal surgeon Max Fargher agreed to treat Possum.

He said that in his 18 years of experience as a vet, he had never seen such a disturbing attack on an animal.

"In general, this is the worst episode of animal cruelty I've ever seen," Cairns.com.au quoted him as saying. (ANI)