Snared feral cat rescued from Kloofendal Reserve
The routine patrol turned into a race to save the trapped cat, with everyone involved playing a role in the rescue.
A feral cat found caught in an illegal snare during a Friends of Kloofendal (FRoK) snare patrol on July 25 is recovering after receiving veterinary treatment and being transferred to Community Led Animal Welfare (Claw).
The cat was discovered by volunteers participating in the community patrol, which searches for and removes illegal snares from Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
Volunteer Timon Lamprey said the team acted quickly after finding the animal.
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“When we found the cat, we took her to Florida Vet, where they sedated and shaved her to check the wounds around her neck. They gave her long-acting pain medication and antibiotics,” he said.
During the rescue, Lamprey and fellow volunteer Laura van Stryp were bitten by the frightened cat while catching and transporting her to get medical assistance.
“We then had to get some antibiotics, a tetanus injection and the first round of rabies vaccinations,” he said.
After receiving medical treatment, the volunteers returned to the veterinary practice before transporting the cat to Claw for rehabilitation.
Cora Bailey, founder of Claw, said the cat was in a poor condition when it arrived.
“It was not in a good way. The snare had been removed, and the cat was drowsy from the anaesthetic. We made her comfortable in a quiet spot,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the cat has since improved. “The cat is in a much better condition now, thanks to the people who found her during the snare patrol.”
She said Claw has treated other animals with similar injuries.
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“It’s not our first time having animals with snare injuries. We’ve had monkeys with snares around their necks and arms before,” she said.
Bailey encouraged members of the public to participate in community snare patrols.
“People should be vigilant and find out what groups they can join for snare clean-ups. This shows that it’s not only wildlife that is affected, but also domestic animals.”
The FRoK snare patrol team is a community initiative that conducts searches for illegal snares in and around Kloofendal Nature Reserve. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in patrols to assist with identifying and removing snares from the reserve.
