please advise - injured feral cat i cant catch

[ThatVikRinA22]

hi
At my place of work we have a large number of feral cats knocking about. Today i noticed a kitten that seems to have some sort of packing cable caught around its neck and body.

I spoke to some of the other staff at work and some have tried to catch it, they' ve tried to give it food/drink but as soon as they go out it runs.

its awful to see this little cat, and i fear as it grows it may start to cut in.

What do i do? Who can i tell to come catch it? I work in a macho job and everyone already thinks im the idiot animal welfare woman....

who should i inform to come and try catch it?

Try the cats protection league in your area - they have traps for feral cats. I possibly wouldn't bother with the RSPCA as cat may end up pts. The cats protection may trap it, sort out the problem and maybe even neuter it as well.

I would contact RSPCA.
I imagine you could get some sort of trap (like a humane mouse trap, but larger version) to try to lure it in.
bunch of feral cats would best be rounded up anyway.

cheers - i have just emailed the localish branch of CPL- not sure which one to try but im sure they will at least point me in the right direction.

im always ringing the bloody RSPCA....but last time i did that in a professional capacity they stupidly told the owner of an animal that had to be PTS who had made the report so im a bit off them....i couldnt believe they did that! they may as well have just given them my name and address....

ill see if i get an email back from cats protection. There was no answer to the helpline.

cheers

(i wonder if they could neuter all the ferals? there are lots of them)

It may take a day or so as cpl helplines etc are usually run by volunteers. Hope it gets sorted, poor little thing!

I used to work for a rescue centre who used to take the cats in neuter them and then return them to where they were caught.

However it was the RSPCA who brought them in to us and they used traps.
You honestly couldn't go near the cats even in the traps, they went mad, hissing yowling throwing themselves about, claws out, ears flat, biting and clawing at anything that came near.

I would contact the RSPCA and ask about traps. They might want you to keep an eye out anyway to check the trap. However I imagine you may catch the wrong cat using the trap method.

CPL should be able to put you in contact with someone who has a cat trap.

We have one (DH is a master at trapping feral cats) and will lend it to out local CPL when they ask.

If the cat is really wild you will need a trap and then a crusher cage - it sounds horrid, but it isn't.
YOur local vet may have one that they could lend you

If the cat is truely feral a trap is your only option - although if there are several cats around it can be a bit of a logistical nightmare as sod's law means the wrong cat will spring the trap first (they can be noisy) and that will spook the cat you actually need to catch

Can't help in any way but just want to say GOOD ON YOU for caring!

What is pts?
Good on you OP

It's 'put to sleep'

well, no email back yet from CPL. ill give it a few days and then if ive heard nothing ill call RSPCA. and they will think ohno! not her again

still no email fro CPL, and ive not seen kitty about for a day or two either....am a little disappointed in the non response tbh. I hope little cat hasnt got herself stuck somewhere.

Oh dear.. it's horrible to think he could be suffering somewhere.

Maybe CPL has a phone number you could try? I know people in other rescues who just receive hundreds of emails and can't keep up with checking them all. It might be your email is just lost in a long list somewhere.

I hope he turns up again .. fingers crossed

i tried the phone number but again got no answer, just a recorded message. not sure what to do now as not seen the cat either for a couple of days.

Ah well, I suppose the cat might never re-appear now anyway. At least you cared enough to try