Secunda community pitches in to help rescue injured cat
“We hoped that the owner would be concerned enough to come help. If she recognised her owner, she might have come out on her own,” explained Ms Van Zyl.
SECUNDA – It was “Operation Trapped Cat” for a growing group of volunteers who tried to save an injured cat trapped between walls for two days on Tuesday, 19 March.
A motorist saw the calico feline being run over by a car in Nelson Mandela Drive at the bus stop near the Echo/Ridge Times offices at the Driefontein Centre on Sunday, 17 March.
He phoned for help and the team of Feral Watch TNR was eventually called to assist.
Ms Nicolette van Zyl of Feral Watch said she could see the cat lodged between the two garden walls, but could at the time not determine the extent of the animal’s injuries.
“She appeared scared and in pain,” said Ms Van Zyl.
The team tried everything possible to lure out the animal – from tempting her with food, to encouraging her from behind – but she did not budge.
A message on social media was sent out in an effort to locate the cat’s owner.
“We hoped that the owner would be concerned enough to come help.
“If she recognised her owner, she might have come out on her own,” explained Ms Van Zyl.
Time was running out for the feline as she was dehydrating.
“We were there every day trying to nudge her out, but to no avail.
“When she was not seen on Tuesday morning, we though she had finally made it out, but something kept nagging at me to return and to again make sure if we did not miss her,” Ms Van Zyl told the newspaper.
Sure enough, that afternoon she was spotted again.
By this time family members and the community joined in to find a plan D.
Mr Christo Roos, member of Feral Watch, was at this stage willing to break down a wall if needed.
The new plan was to remove the concrete slabs, but this required the permission of a home owner. The elderly woman was at home, but she is deaf and could not hear the commotion outside.
As night was moving in, it also became difficult to see.
“Eventually, Langamed South ambulances helped attract the aged resident’s attention with their flashing lights. A member of Secunda 911 Assist 24/7 helped us with proper lighting and the cat finally made her way to a waiting cage,” said Ms Van Zyl.
It soon became clear that the cat was in severe pain with a possible fractured pelvis.
She was taken to the vet the next morning where she was sedated before X-rays could be taken.
“The outcome was very sad indeed. The cat’s pelvis was broken and the bone had shifted. Her leg was also broken in four places.”
Due to the severity of her injuries, the cat had to be euthanised.
“We can at least find solace in the fact that she did not die from starvation and pain,” concluded Ms Van Zyl.
She thanked the following people and organisations for their help: AfriForum Teksa branch, Messrs Dawie Taljaard, Jan du Plessis, Johan Moolman, Donovan Cloete, E.G Rohrbeck, Gavin Nel, Julius Piper, Danie Venter, Jaco Horn and Sinethemba Buthani, Mr Dawie and Ms Clara de Villiers, Ms Angelique Combrink and Ms Priscilla Botha.
