Overview

• RSPCA data show 497 incidents involving air guns, catapults and crossbows targeting animals in England and Wales between 2022 and 2024.
• Airgun assaults on cats rose 30% in 2024 with 70 cases flagged to the charity, up from 54 the previous year.
• Catapult-related attacks reported through June more than doubled to 22 incidents compared with the same period in 2023.
• Inconsistencies in counts—such as conflicting bird attack figures—highlight potential underreporting and aggregation issues.
• The RSPCA is urging public support through its Summer Cruelty Appeal and is helping expand Operation Lakeshot to strengthen enforcement against weapon assaults on wildlife and pets.