Surviving in temperatures well below zero is not easy for a stray cat. If he also finds himself locked in a cage, at the mercy of the elements, his chances of escaping become extremely reduced. This is what recently happened to a feline before it was discovered by volunteers.
The mercury was -32°C the morning a cat was saved at the last minute while trapped in a cage installed outside, reported Daily Have Canada .
The events took place in early January 2024 in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Volunteers immediately took action when they realized the animal’s distress. The poor cat had absolutely no way to protect himself from the snow that accumulated on his body, bruised by the extreme cold . Its paws were literally stuck to the metal floor by the ice.
He was taken in by the local animal welfare association, the Lloydminster & District SPCA . The team immediately took him to the veterinarian for a thorough examination and emergency treatment.
His paws were bleeding, but fortunately the lesions had only affected his pads and should heal completely in a while.
The outcome could have been completely different
“ This could have ended very badly ,” underlines the association on its Facebook page . We therefore call not to use cat traps in these weather conditions. »
According to the SPCA , in fact, it is not illegal in this province to place cat cages on a property. However, “from the moment the cat is trapped, the person who installed the trap has the legal responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of this animal ,” specifies the association. If the cat is in distress, the owner can be prosecuted under the Animal Protection Act. »
Volunteers believe that the person who set up this cage trap did so with the intention of rescuing the stray cat. The idea would have been to immobilize it and then collect it. However, too much time had passed between the moment the tomcat was captured and its discovery by the volunteers, which could have cost it its life. Especially since this is not the type of cage trap to use in such conditions, this model does not provide any protection against the elements.