A cat has been maimed in Edinburgh after getting caught in a home-made snare.

The Scottish SPCA said the cat lost three claws and suffered cuts to its face, tongue and paws in the trap before returning home to Drum Brae Crescent on May 11.

The animal welfare charity is appealing for information and said this was a case of "illegal snaring".

The Scottish SPCA has a special investigations unit which works undercover to gather intelligence on a number of unlawful activities including snaring, dog fighting, badger baiting and the illegal puppy trade.

An undercover officer for the charity said: "The cat lost three claws and suffered abrasions to his face, tongue and paws. We are urging other pet owners in the local area to be on their guard.

"Snares are generally designed for rabbits, foxes and hares. However, in this environment it is likely this snare was set intentionally for cats.

"This home-made snare was untagged and non-locking, both of which constitute offences under the Snares (Scotland) Order 2010.

"Our enquiries so far have not resulted in any leads and we are now urging anyone with information about this incident or other cases of illegal snaring to contact our animal helpline on 03000 999999."