Suffering cat with drainpipe around its neck “must have been seen by people”

A young cat found with a drainpipe around its neck with two eight-week-old kittens in tow “must have been seen” by passers by who chose not to act, says animal rights activist.

The distressed animal, known as ‘Mama’, was discovered in a garden on Sparth Bottoms, visibly in pain from the piece of pipe around her neck.

She was eventually picked up and helped by workers at animal welfare group Gizmo’s Legacy, who think the drainpipe had been on for so long that she may have given birth whilst trapped in it.

 

 

Wendy from Gizmo’s Legacy said the rescue efforts were “heartbreaking”, not just because she was suffering so much, but because it’s very likely she’d been spotted and ignored by passers-by who could have helped a long time before she was found.

Speaking to Rochdale Online News, Wendy said: “It’s a disgrace. There’s no way she could have been stuck for so long and no-one had seen her. How people can just pass by seeing an animal suffering so much is beyond me.”

Wendy coordinated Mama’s rescue before volunteer Nicola picked her up and brought her to safety.

Using secateurs, Wendy carefully cut the pipe while Nicola held the surprisingly calm cat. Once freed, Mama stretched her neck and eagerly ate two pouches of food, finally able to eat without discomfort.

While Mama has a minor cut on her nose and might be pregnant again, she and her kittens are now safe and under care.

 

 

Wendy added: “It’s beyond belief. This poor girl who’s only a baby herself had part of a drainpipe stuck firmly on her neck. Nicola (the volunteer) brought the little one to me and between us we tried to get the drain pipe off.

“It was a struggle but we managed to cut her free.

“We just want to urge people not to stand by or ignore it if something like this is found.”

Gizmo's Legacy, which campaigns for local authorities to check all cats killed or injured on roads for microchips, highlights this rescue as a reminder of their ongoing mission.
 

Read more: Heart-breaking footage released by Gizmo's Legacy ahead of second Pets (Microchip) Bill readingPublished: 15 March 2023

Gizmo's Legacy campaign began in 2016 after a deceased pet belonging to owner Helena Abrahams was disposed of without checking its microchip.

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