A delicate operation to release a cat that became stuck in his owner’s pool fence has seen the feline find a new lease on life, after the freak accident resulted in an emergency amputation.

Alarms were raised after RSPCA South Australia Rescue Officer Nalika received a distressing call from a Paradise woman, reporting that her cat, The Colonel, had become lodged between the metal bars of her pool fence. At the time of the call, the cat’s condition was unknown, but the owner feared that the scared feline may be injured.

Upon arrival to the northeastern suburbs property, Nalika was faced with a situation much more dire than she had originally anticipated. Not only was the black and white cat highly stressed, but a thorough examination of his condition confirmed that his hind leg was broken.

 

A stressful operation for all involved

“From there onwards, I knew the severity of the situation had worsened,” said Nalika.

Having attended to emergencies like this before, Nalika knew that releasing this cat from the fence without causing him any further harm or stress would be a difficult task.

Once she had placed towels and blankets around The Colonel, Nalika quickly got to work with her handy bolt cutters, removing small sections of the metal bars. With a bit of patience and gentle maneuvering, she was able to safely release the cat within a matter of minutes.

 

The Colonel’s rehabilitation journey

The Colonel was then quickly transported to RSPCA’s Vet Centre, where our dedicated team of vets and nurses inspected the severity of the cat’s injuries. It was there that the tough decision was made to amputate his hind leg.

The badly injured cat was surrendered to the RSPCA there and then, due to the elderly owner not being able to afford the required treatment and care of her beloved pet.

Weeks on from his traumatic rescue, The Colonel is now settling into the warmth and comfort of his foster home, to help aid his rehabilitation process.

Foster carer, Dianne, said there have been plenty of gentle pats on offer, quality nap times, bird watching, and most importantly, an opulence of bonding time.

“The Colonel is on the road to recovery – he really is a lovely boy and is coming along well,” said Dianne.

“Losing a limb is an extremely stressful situation for any animal.”

“But he’s overcoming his fears, and gradually conquering the house, which is fantastic.”

 

 

Foster carers are an integral part of the RSPCA, and they play a crucial role in the success of the rehabilitation of badly injured animals like The Colonel. By placing them into a home environment when they’re at their most vulnerable, these animals will have a much higher chance of making a full recovery, and an even better chance of finding their forever home.

If you notice an animal in distress, please call our 24-hour hotline on 1300 4 777 22. Our rescue officers are entirely funded by community donations. Learn more about their work here.