Charity warning after cat found seriously injured in Wisbech
Cats Protection is warning about the potential danger of cat collars.
Charity Cats Protection has issued a warning about the potential dangers of collars after finding a cat with serious injuries in Wisbech.
A cat was seen limping around Wisbech for several weeks during the winter before residents got close enough to see what was wrong and called for professional help.
Lindsay Tempest, who's the manager at Cats Protection's Downham Market Adoption Centre said: "Many people had shared photos on a local Facebook group saying she was limping and badly injured.
"When nobody came forward after repeated posts, someone tagged Cats Protection and appealed for help."
After checking the young cat could be caught safely within Covid-19 guidelines, a humane trap was set with smelly sardines and tuna for the hungry animal.
She was trapped a short time later and Cats Protection took her in.
Although the collar, which she'd managed to get her leg stuck through, suggested she'd once been someone's pet, she wasn't microchipped and appeals to find her owner have been unsuccessful.
The cat, who's been named Louise by her carers, needed urgent attention and narrowly avoided amputation after the wound where he leg had been stuck became infected.
She also had ear mites, a tick, muscle damage, and swelling to her joints and limbs.
Lindsay said: "She had managed to get her front leg through the collar. Over time the collar had embedded into her armpit and was causing an open wound, which then became infected.
"We thought we may have to amputate her leg.
"The infection was so bad that we needed to get that under control before exploring the best option for her. She has had two operations and her wounds need regular flushing and dressing to aid healing. But it's still touch and go."
Sarah Elliott, Cats Protection's Central Veterinary Officer, said: "We have seen too many injuries caused by collars, where cats have got caught while playing, hunting or trying to escape from danger.
"A cat's leg or jaw may become caught in an elasticated or ill-fitting collar and this can result in serious injury.
"In their desperation to get clear, their legs can get stuck under the collar or the collar can travel down around their chest, getting tighter and biting into their body and causing open sores."
Advice for avoiding dangerous collars
Cats Protection says it believes microchips are the safest way to identify cats and trace their owner should they become lost or injured.
It says chips are the preferred method of identification, as it's permanent and safe.
The charity says if you still want to put a collar on your cat, it's safest to only use collars with a 'quick release' or snap-opener, and not an elasticated one.
That means the cat is less likely to become trapped, caught or tangles, keeping it safer from injury or death.
The charity says making sure the collar fits properly is also really important, two fingers should fit snugly underneath it to ensure safety and comfort for the animal.
Louise's vet bill has already reached ÂŁ1,300 so the charity has set up a Just Giving page to help pay for her treatment after a tough year of fundraising.