Walter the stray puss became stuck in traps left down for mice

A stray cat who became stuck in a glue trap meant for catching mice in a home in Isleworth is being cared for by RSPCA vets at Putney Animal Hospital, who had to bath him to remove the adhesive material.

In a struggle to escape the cat, whose paws were covered in the strong glue from the trap, had also become stuck to cardboard and was unable to run away when he was discovered by the homeowner.

They contacted the RSPCA and animal collection officer (ACO) Joe Tambini arrived to help the stricken cat. He said: “The glue traps had been left out by the homeowner to catch mice but sadly this inquisitive stray cat came a cropper when he crept into the home.

“The glue was all over his paws and he’d also become stuck to some cardboard which was tugging at his fur, so I had to carefully put him into the crate in my van, still with the cardboard attached to him. I took him to our Putney Animal Hospital where the veterinary team had to very gently bath him to remove the glue and the box so it didn’t hurt him in the process.

“We urge people not to use these traps because they can cause so much harm to animals.”

The black and white cat is thought to be between three and five years old and although he is neutered, he was not microchipped, so is assumed to be a stray. Nicknamed Walter, he is healthy and friendly, and staff at an RSPCA rehoming centre will now care for him. If no owner comes forward to claim him before 8 October, he can be found a loving new home.

The RSPCA opposes the manufacture, sale and use of glue traps because of the unnecessary suffering they cause to animal like this stray cat, but also to wildlife.

Though glue traps may seem like an effective way to catch rodents without killing them, they come with very serious welfare issues and cause the horrific suffering to the animals who get caught in them. Once the poor animal is stuck, it will struggle to free itself, and in doing so, more and more parts of its body become trapped in the glue. Sadly, over the years the RSPCA has been called to rescue many different species from the traps including owls, robins, kittens and snakes, some of which tear patches of their fur out, break bones, and even gnaw their own limbs off in a bid to be free.”

For the past two years, the RSPCA has been running a “Wild Animals and Glue Traps” project, and asks that anyone who sees glue traps on sale to the general public to get in contact at wildlife@rspca.org.uk with details including store address, so the charity can write to the retailer and ask them to consider stopping the sale of glue traps at their store. The project has been very successful and many stockists have taken these traps off their shelves.

Advice from the RSPCA includes never trying to free an animal from a trap, as there is a risk of injury to both the person and the animal. Instead, it is best to stay back to avoid stressing the animal and to call the RSPCA’s emergency line on 0300 1234 999

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give.

October 5, 2018