A cat had to be put down after she was found dying and covered in paint.

The 15-year-old feline called Mitsi was discovered badly injured and emaciated in a driveway in Inverness after going missing from her owner's home.

Mitsi was taken to the vets after she was discovered by council workers in the city's Carnac Crescent on Thursday.

Inverness Cat Rescue took the feline and and tried to treat her but she had to be put down. The Scottish SPCA have now launched an investigation into the incident.

Animal rescue workers said she was in such a bad condition that it was first thought the cat had been hit by a car and owner is said to be "devastated and heartbroken"

A statement on Inverness Cat Rescue's Facebook page said: "It was first thought that the cat was victim of a road accident. When we arrived on the scene we discovered that she was barely alive.

"She looked to be a very old emaciated cat, and we wrapped her in a blanket and took her straight to our vet.

"On examination she was found to be not so old, perhaps middle aged. She had no obvious injuries consistent with being hit by a car.

"Her paws were very dirty with dried on mud, her coat was covered in burrs, she was painfully thin and in a starved condition.

"But worst of all, from the tip of her nose, right along her back to the end of her tail she was covered in what looked like white paint, which had dried and hardened.

"Mitsi has been claimed by her owner, and her remains taken home. We are very anxious to point out that Mitsi came from a very caring and loving home, and that her owner is absolutely devastated and heartbroken at what has happened to her cat.

"The details of this case have been passed on to the relevant authorities."