This is a warning to cat owners. After reading the reports and watching the video below a mousetrap must be regarded as another potential household cat and kitten hazard. Kittens are particularly vulnerable. There are many potential hazards, believe me. Many more that people are aware of. A lot of hazards for cats at concerned with poisoning either acutely or insidiously e.g. carpets.
http://youtu.be/66hxyt9mRYU
The sweet black and white kitten’s name is Babybell. I am not sure if she had a caretaker or not. She was found in a garden in Lewknor, Oxfordshire, England, UK. She must have wandered into the garden (perhaps from a neighboring property) and stepped on a mousetrap. She was found with the trap on her right foreleg. Sadly, it was decided by the veterinarian that the leg had to be amputated.
We know how well cats adapt to three legs but believe me cats are far better off with four legs. I should know I care for a three legged cat and I hate to see him shuffle along. When cats get older it is not as easy to cope with three legs. It is also distressing to see the wonderfully athletic domestic cat reduced to being half of himself in terms of athletic skills. A cat depends a lot on his legs just like humans.
This is quite a setback in the life of Babybell although she will not see it that way. Fortunately there is a Blue Cross animal rehoming centre in Lewknor which is where the video above was made. Here are some still frames from the video (in case the video, one day, is removed).
One last note: a photographer (probably freelance) placed Babybell next to a mousetrap to get a better picture. Babybell looks startled in the picture and I wonder whether it was fair and decent to do this. It is probably another example of mild exploitation, something the human race is good at.
Poor little soul, her perfect form marred for life by some cruel idiot. Thankfully being so young she should adapt and manage well enough, but of course I should never have happened. Yes bad taste the last photo I agree.
I feel sad for her. Perhaps vets see amputation as the easy option. I wonder whether the vet had to amputate. It may have been the cheaper option. I don’t know but because cats cope so well it may encourage amputations.
Yes I think you are right, amputation is probably quicker and cheaper and if she didn’t have her own human to stick up for her rights there was probably no chance of long and expensive treatment to save her tiny leg. A good example of this is Leah’s Mr Jinks, it was only though her long battle that his leg was saved from amputation and now he’s doing well and recovering. It must feel strange to you not to know what happened to Charlie’s leg and what he went through before you knew him.
Depending on the length of time involved, her leg may have been so deprived of circulation that it was rendered useless and may have rotted off eventually, leading to even more problems.
Poor baby. That is only one reason why a cat is better off being an indoor cat.
I have to agree with that. I don’t like the idea of indoor cats but it avoids this sort of nasty injury.
As usual cats have to be deprived of their rightful freedom because of people making it unsafe outdoors. Selfish, ignorant, cruel humanity!!!
I don’t agree with tiny kittens being outside, but adult cats should be able to enjoy a fulfilled life without being in danger.
I think it is double carelessness. The owner let their kitten wander anywhere and I don’t believe a kitten should wander anywhere and the other person put down a trap which I guess might hurt any small mammal as there was food on it that attracts mammals. A recipe for injury.
In all fairness, some people have mouse traps inside their homes. So, it’s not just an outdoor thing. I don’t think that is the case here, but I can remember them in the basement of my grandmother’s home in Michigan.
Such a darling kitten too. It seems that we can never turn our backs for a second.
Exactly right Dee, that mousetrap was probably intended for indoor use anyway but some idiot set it outside, there are many hazards outdoors for cats but there are also many within the home as well, indoor cats are not guaranteed safety, it’s up to the owner to keep them safe indoors and out.
You are right of course Dee, a cat could be injured by a mouse trap in their home, life is full of hazards for them indoors too.
There are many potential hazards in the home. It probably depends on how organised the home is.
And if the people don’t ‘think cat’ all the time.
It’s such a hard job to be on guard all of the time. But, these precious souls are in our charge. We have a duty to keep them safe.
Whatever was such a tiny kitten doing outside by herself? Poor little soul, I hope she gets a good home.
The kitten didn’t look feral so my guess is one of the neighbors let their cat have kittens and then let them wander next door. Just a guess.