Chloe O'Connor, 19, shot the cat from her bedroom window and fired the weapon with such force that it went through the pet's stomach and out the other side.
'Trouble,' a ginger and white Tom, managed to drag himself part of the way home before collapsing and dying, a court heard.
Targets
O'Connor, of Grange Road South, Hyde, was caught after another neighbour told police they had seen her partner shooting crossbows and discovered targets and kitchen units full of holes in the back garden.
Tameside magistrates heard that she admitted shooting the cat straight away, telling officers: "I did it last night when I was drunk."
Mark Harper, prosecuting for the RSPCA, showed the court graphic photographs taken of Trouble shortly after his death on June 22.
He said: "She fully admitted that she was the person responsible for causing the death of the cat by firing a crossbow at it from an upstairs window while the cat was on the fence.
"The bolt hit this cat with such force that it burst through the skin on his right side and burst out through the skin on his left side.
"It was extremely unlikely that the cat died instantaneously as it managed to travel 15-20m before it collapsed."
O'Connor, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and handed in various character references to the court.
Sentencing was adjourned until September 9 while the probation service prepares full reports.
Mark Harper
The bolt hit this cat with such force that it burst through the skin on his right side and burst out through the skin on his left side
Speaking after the hearing on Wednesday, owner Giovanni Zazzarino, also of Grange Road South, said he was pleased O'Conner had been brought before the courts.
The 51-year-old, who works as an engineer, said: "I've got two cats and every morning when I wake up they are there. When he wasn't I knew something was wrong and then a neighbour told me he had been shot.
"I live on my own and you get attached to your pets, it's like having a companion. I've had Trouble since he was a kitten and I was really upset about it.
"When a cat gets run over it's still upsetting but at least it's an accident.
"I'm pleased it's come to court and I just hope it makes other people realise that it's not something trivial to kill an animal and you will get prosecuted."
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garfield (19/08/2009 at 17:11)
Im very sorry to the owner of the cat because i am a pet owner and my pets are like my children i would be devastated if this happened to one of my pets.
Andanotherthing, Mcr (19/08/2009 at 17:15)
Angry of Stockport (19/08/2009 at 17:22)
Also, I think it is very wrong to show that picture of the cat.
Jo14, Somewhere on planet Earth (19/08/2009 at 17:27)
NWmancCUB (19/08/2009 at 17:31)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (19/08/2009 at 17:40)
Also, I think it is very wrong to show that picture of the cat.
Angry of Stockport. The pictures need to be seen. Drunk my eye. She has a crossbow in the first place...Why. Filth and people need to know what she is capable of.
Studies prove animal abusers go on to be people abusers. sterilize it.
MPs gravy train, UK (19/08/2009 at 17:40)
Rammylad (19/08/2009 at 17:48)
No doubt the courts will ask her to attend a drink awareness day and ask her to do 20 hours unpaid work.
Blip, Manchester (19/08/2009 at 18:13)
Oh that's OK then - let her off because she's really not that bad when she's not killing people's pets with crossbows whilst 'drunk' (but obviously not too drunk to miss her target).
I wait with baited breath for the firm hand of justice to come crashing down on her cruel little head. Not.
Ran Droid, Manchester (19/08/2009 at 18:17)
Since people like Chloe exist who, it seems, cannot handle alcohol without skewering local pets, perhaps the appropriate punishment ought to be where she's loaded up with something like disulfiram on daily basis so she'll never booze again.
As for character references, the only one that counts is that she used a crossbow against a cat...
28Rosler, Manchester (19/08/2009 at 18:53)
Can we not line her up and shoot crossbow bolts at her as a punishment?
CityRedgirl, Salford (19/08/2009 at 19:14)
sigmund fraud, strangeways (19/08/2009 at 19:20)
Jenny (19/08/2009 at 19:55)
What is wrong with her?? People get drunk every day and never think of doing things like this!!! What a stupid excuse. She's obviously evil drunk or not.
Andanotherthing, Mcr (19/08/2009 at 20:04)
Acid, Chadderton (19/08/2009 at 20:18)
Blip, Manchester
19/08/2009 at 18:13 "
You can hardly call THAT head 'little'.
Pippa, Manchester (19/08/2009 at 20:33)
willing to listen, Middleton (19/08/2009 at 20:41)
I hope she serves a long sentence and not let off lightly, this piece of trash needs to pay for the suffering she has caused !
Andanotherthing, Mcr (19/08/2009 at 20:45)
Paul Graham (19/08/2009 at 20:54)
tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (19/08/2009 at 21:02)
Sad B***h that she is.
Andanotherthing, Mcr (19/08/2009 at 21:03)
tony (19/08/2009 at 22:17)
When a sicko like her can shoot pet cats it really is only a matter of time before it is a human next!
Bang her away for two years!
Rachel, Bolton (19/08/2009 at 22:28)
Just Wondering?, North Manchester (19/08/2009 at 22:28)