A sweet-natured cat has found her forever home after recovering from a nasty collar injury thanks to a South Wales cat charity.
Three-year-old Winnie came into the care of Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre as her owners were unable to afford the vet treatment required after her leg got caught in her collar.
The location of injuries like this can make the healing process quite tricky and Winnie underwent intensive surgical and medical treatment for her wounds.
Centre manager Sue Dobbs said: “Winnie is a super friendly cat and was so accepting of all the medication she was on, while purring away! It wasn’t an easy recovery, and she had some set-backs along the way, but she did amazingly well and we were thrilled to see her go to a new home. I’d like to say a huge thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, whose support helps us take care of cats like Winnie.”
Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has funded the care of around 52 cats at the centre over the past year.
Winnie’s new owner, Sarah Marshall from Penarth, says that Winnie has settled in really well. “We sadly lost our previous cat in February and when I spotted Winnie on the centre’s Facebook page I just felt that the time was right to welcome a new cat into the family. She seemed like the perfect match for us and with our children both now at university, we knew we could offer her the calm, quiet household she needed.
“We’re so glad we could give her a fresh start after all she went through with her injury and she’s already making herself at home – she even jumped on my lap within the first hour! She’s such a friendly, chatty little girl and it’s great to see her confidence with us growing day by day.”
Sarah Elliott, Cats Protection’s Central Veterinary Officer, warns again the use of potentially dangerous collars, saying: “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.”
Cats Protection believes that all owned cats should be identified in order to trace their owner should they become lost or injured. The preferred method of identification is an implanted microchip as this is permanent and safe.
If an owner also chooses to fit a collar with their contact details attached, the charity advises that only a ‘quick release’ or snap-opening collar is ever used – not an elasticated one. Then the cat would be less likely to be trapped should the collar become caught or tangled, keeping it safer from injury or death.
Making sure the collar fits correctly is important. Two fingers should fit snugly underneath the collar to ensure safety and comfort and any damaged collars should be replaced immediately. Cats Protection’s advice on the use of collars is here: www.cats.org.uk/choosing-a-cat-collar
Anyone interested in adopting from Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre can email the centre at bridgend@cats.org.uk or visit www.cats.org.uk.bridgend
