Latest news with #straycat
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Stray cat saves kittens from danger before being killed on road
A stray cat has given the final gift of safety to her kittens before she was killed on a road. Four kittens are now being cared for by an animal charity in Cornwall after she saved three of them – with the fourth finding his own way to his siblings. The Tamblyn family were shocked when a stray cat wandered into their home carrying a kitten and left after depositing him on their kitchen floor. When she returned 24 hours later with another kitten, Jane Tamblyn rang Cats Protection for advice. Mrs Tamblyn, 67, from Truro, said: 'We live at the top of Chacewater Hill between treacherous crossings. 'Kerley crossing in particular is a very dangerous stretch of road these days. The mother cat was very brave, bringing the kittens over it and down a 100 yard track to us.' The team established the kittens were around five or six-weeks-old and the mother was taking them somewhere safe to wean them. Concerned there may be more kittens, centre staff agreed with Mrs Tamblyn and her husband Dave, 76, that the family would keep them for a couple of days in their sheltered barbeque area which would allow the mother easy access to the kittens and to deliver other kittens if needed. The mother did arrive with a third kitten, but tragedy struck on the day the Tamblyns were due to transport the family of cats to the charity. Mrs Tamblyn said: 'On the day we were going to bring them to the centre, the mother cat was outside the house having some food. 'She then suddenly went up the lane – maybe she was looking for the last kitten, we don't know – but later that morning my youngest son found she had been killed on the road that goes past our house. 'He rushed in and told my husband, Dave, who caringly took her off the road and buried her in the apple orchard where we've buried our other family pets. 'We all really loved that cat and we'd hoped we could have her back once the kittens were old enough.' The Tamblyns took the three orphan kittens to the centre but a few days later a crying fourth kitten arrived at their back door. 'The mother bringing them across those roads really was a miracle but we also couldn't believe how brave he must have been and that he had the instinct to survive and find us,' Mrs Tamblyn said. 'The kittens were all so lucky to be saved.' They placed the kitten in their conservatory and then rang the centre so that he could be reunited with the rest of his litter. The kittens are now all eating solid food, have received a vet check and are in good health. Now around seven-weeks-old, the two black and white male kittens have been named Badger and Squirrel, the male tabby-and-white kitten is called Rabbit and the female tortoiseshell is called Fox. Ciaran Brookes-Whyte, from the charity, said: 'How Squirrel found his way is a mystery. 'It is so deeply sad that their mother went to such lengths to get her kittens to safety only to be killed on the road. 'We feel extremely proud to be able to continue her amazing work. She had brought them up beautifully and they are all thriving.' Each of the kittens will need a period of socialisation before they can be homed.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Cat is born with six LEGS after absorbing her twin in utero
Vets in Canada were in for a surprise after a one-year-old stray cat arrived at their clinic - with six legs. The cat, later named Bitsy, was brought in to the Furget Me Not Animal Rescue in Edmonton, Alberta in April 2025. Upon investigation, the rescue team found Bitsy had two additional limbs protruding from her back end, totaling six legs. 'When [the rescuer] mentioned the cat had extra legs growing out of its side, my immediate thought was 'that isn't possible,'' said Christine Koltun, the rescue's founder and executive director. Vets believe that Bitsy's extra legs came from a twin, who she had absorbed in utero. Unfortunately, three of her legs were non-functional, causing Bitsy discomfort and hindering her mobility. 'Simple tasks like positioning her limbs to be able to reach a food dish were challenging,' Ms Koltun explained. To alleviate her pain, Bitsy underwent surgery to amputate the non-functional limbs and a partial pelvis. Despite her unusual appearance, Bitsy was gentle and friendly when she arrived at the rescue centre, indicating she had been cared for previously. 'She was quite dirty and had sores on three of her six legs,' Ms Koltun noted. 'Fortunately, she was incredibly sweet and gentle, which confirmed that she was definitely not a feral cat.' Vets at Windermere Veterinary Hospital spent two hours operating on Bitsy. 'The extra legs were attached to one of her back legs by an extra partial pelvis that had also not been absorbed, so we had to amputate the two extra limbs and the back leg to ensure the best quality of life for Bitsy,' said Mackenzie Sawatzky, Windermere's office manager, and Bitsy's new owner. Post-surgery, the cat showed remarkable improvement, moving freely and resting comfortably for the first time. 'She had been unable to lie down properly pre-op; she had to splay her legs out to the sides like a spider,' Ms Koltun said. 'Knowing she could lie in a cat bed comfortably for the first time in her life was extremely moving. Post-surgery, the cat showed remarkable improvement, moving freely and resting comfortably for the first time 'Losing the dead weight put a spring in her step almost immediately.' Moved by Bitsy's resilience, Ms Sawatzky adopted her. 'Bitsy has recovered beautifully,' she said. 'She is doing fantastic. She has been running and playing. She's able to jump up on our couch and tables. 'She has taken to having 3 legs so easily. I think she's just so happy to be free of pain that it has made her adjustment that much easier.' 'Had Bitsy not been rescued, who knows what her story could have been. She has been given such an incredible second chance at life because of Furget Me Not Animal Rescue.' Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner's demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth. In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language. In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin - with the help of animal behaviourists - explains how to interpret your pet's movements. Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.
Malay Mail
14-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Another cat found dead in suspected abuse case, fuelling fears of cruelty trend in Singapore
SINGAPORE, May 14 — Authorities are investigating another suspected case of animal cruelty in the city state following the violent death of a stray cat in Punggol. According to The Straits Times, the National Parks Board (NParks) said it was alerted to an injured cat near Block 326B Sumang Walk and has begun looking into the incident. Animal welfare group Luni Singapore identified the cat as Shere Khan, a friendly tabby that was well known to residents and local feeders. The cat was found severely injured and later died from what the group believes were deliberate acts of abuse involving strangulation or blunt force trauma. A veterinary report detailed injuries including dislodged eyeballs, tongue lacerations, facial bruising, and frayed claws – all signs consistent with intentional harm. Luni Singapore has appealed for witnesses and any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to assist with the investigation. This case follows the discovery of a mutilated cat in Yishun last week, which prompted strong public condemnation, including a statement from Law Minister K. Shanmugam. Animal rights groups warn that abuse against cats is rising, with 220 of 453 cruelty cases reported in 2024 involving felines.
