Kitten Loses Leg in Mousetrap
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.
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.
Three legged kitten startled by mousetrap that caused her to lose a leg. Photo by Henry Nichols SWNS