Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Cops are hunting those responsible after a ginger tom cat had the skin from its tail removed, leaving raw flesh and bone exposed underneath.

The terrible incident was reported in the city of Linz, the capital of Austria’s northern state of Upper Austria.

Local police said that the cat was found with the fur literally peeled off its tail in an attack that apparently happened on Tuesday.

The images of the poor animal were published by the local police department on Twitter, denouncing the events and asking for any information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible.

The post said: “Animal cruelty. Today between 2 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., a stranger in # Linz / Kleinmunchen pulled the fur off the tail from this #cat. The police station # Kleinmunchen asks for information.”

Reportedly the police department said that so far very few details are known about the background of the crime and they hope to find witnesses who could shed light on the matter.

According to the information posted by the official Facebook account of the shelter, Tierrettung Oberosterreich TROO, the cat was found by an attentive passerby who called them to take it in.

The clinic added: “She was recovered after she was thrown out of a car window.”

The animal rescue centre, which is currently looking after the cat which they say has survived and is doing well, has also backed the police appeal by asking their followers for any clues about the “monster” that mutilated the cat so severely.

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