Angry purrs: The ferocious feline nicknamed 'Devil Cat' who picks fights with dogs and has put other pets in HOSPITAL

A pet cat has been branded Britain's most ferocious feline after launching a series of attacks in a village - putting residents and pets in HOSPITAL.

The black tom, called Shiny, has been nicknamed the 'Devil Cat' after being reported to the police five times over his violent behaviour.

Locals say the fearless feline chases children, picks fights with dogs and even bursts into homes to claw and scratch people.

Shiny's victims are so scared they retreat behind locked doors and arm themselves with hoses and mugs of hot tea whenever they see the bushy black cat prowling the streets.

But despite being reported to the police, officers are powerless to act because laws designed to combat dangerous dogs don't apply to cats.

His baffled owners say they are trying to curb their misbehaving pet's behaviour and he has been neutered and booked in to see an animal psychologist.

But many residents in the normally-peaceful Cornish village of Little Treviscoe want to see the marauding feline put down so they can finally walk the streets without fear.

Victim Paula Burton, 42, was rushed to A&E in July after Shiny raced into her home and sank his claws into her arms and legs.

Miss Burton managed to fight him off, but suffered bruising and cuts that required antibiotics.

She said: "He was pestering my cat through the glass door and he suddenly jumped up at me and started attacking me.

"He was hanging off my arm by his claws. He eventually let go and ran away but I had to go to hospital as my arm had become quite swollen.

"I love cats and I'd never normally complain, but this animal is out of control."

Neighbour Carol Ballsdon said Shiny clawed her 90-year-old mother.

Carol said: "She had a large skin tear down the arm, which we had to dress every day for about three weeks, and two big puncture wounds on the back of her leg.

"It is just four sets of claws and a set of teeth coming at you."

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Residents say the police and RSPCA had been contacted repeatedly but are unable to do anything legally.

They say they previously used water to shoo Shiny away, but now resort to force.

Julia Terry, 43, said: "Twice when I've gone out to get my cat and it has attacked me.
It launched off the fence and attached itself to my arm.

As well as attacking humans, Shiny has laid into local cats and dogs, leaving residents with costly vets bills.

Helen's Wade elderly cat was attacked a couple of weeks ago by Shiny, leaving her with gaping holes to his side.

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Helen, a 34-year-old carer, said: "We're living in misery - he's like a devil cat.

"The laws need to be changed so the same rules apply for cats as they do dogs. If a cat attacks a person, they should immediately be put down."

Helen's mum Shirley Wade, 72, another victim, added: "He was scratching at the door so I opened it slightly to shoo him away and he pounced on me and pinned me to the wall.

Owners Mandie and Adrian Knowles, who live in the village with their three children, Jasmine, seven, Maisy, seven, and Poppy two, have had Shiny since he was a kitten.

Mandie, 32, a learning support student, said: "I know people had problems with Shiny before and he could be aggressive at times but since he's been neutered we've seen no signs of violent behaviour.

"We've had the police knocking on our door about five times, and have had the RSPCA here - it's getting ridiculous."

Mandie and Adrian called their local vets for advice when Paula Burton was attacked and were told to have Shiny neutered.

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Adrian, 34, a dispatch supervisor, said: "We've taken the vets advice and had him neutered but we're not going to put him down when he's perfectly healthy.

"We've done everything we can and are even getting an animal psychologist around this weekend.

"But it's getting very unfair on Shiny. If we genuinely thought that this cat was attacking innocent people or children we would have him put down."