Stray cat with 'worst case of fleas' on the mend
Named Firefly by staff, the male was brought into Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, by a member of the public who saw the cat struggling on one of the hottest days of the year last month.
Woodgreen said he was "dangerously" dehydrated, "ravenously" hungry and much of his fur was missing because the flea infestation was so severe.
The charity urged people to be aware of the dangers that extreme heat poses to pets - and particularly to stray or abandoned animals.
The long-haired black and white cat is about four years old and was not neutered or microchipped, so Woodgreen staff ha no idea if he ever belonged to anyone or how long he had been fending for himself.
The charity said when Firefly was brought in he was so underweight that vets had to put him on fluids immediately.
Vets described it as one of the worst cases of fleas they had seen in years.
They said he was "slowly gaining strength" although remained underweight and "constantly hungry".
Beverley Street, senior operations manager at Woodgreen, said: "If Firefly hadn't come to us when he did, he wouldn't have survived. He was in a terrible state, and it was obvious he hadn't eaten for a while.
"If you find an unwell or injured stray cat during hot weather, try to move them to a shaded, well-ventilated area and offer them cool, fresh water.
"Contact a local vet or rescue charity as soon as possible - it may save their life.
"Always avoid leaving animals in confined spaces for long periods during high temperatures - even with the best intentions, the heat can quickly become deadly."
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