WARNING: This article contains depictions of animal distress.
On one of the coldest mornings of the year there was one thing staff at Ten Lives Cat Centre weren’t expecting to find when they arrived at work at 8am.
Outside the main gate a cage had been placed with a towel over it. When a staff member approached they realised, to their horror, that the cage was an animal trap and there was a poor cat inside.
It was apparent that the trembling cat had endured significant exposure overnight and was left without water. The towel placed over the trap was found to be sodden.
The shaking and frightened cat was brought inside to the warmth of the hospital where they were given food, water, and blankets. It was discovered that her name was Buddy.
Upon being notified of the situation Ten Lives manager, Noel Hunt, checked CCTV footage and uncovered the exact moment the trap was abandoned at the gate.
At 6:11pm the previous night, a man wearing a bomber jacket and stark white gloves can be seen approaching the gate with the trap. They then placed the trap by the gate before, presumably, returning to their vehicle.
For over 13 hours the cat suffered in the near freezing temperatures of a Hobart winter’s night.
“We have procedures in place for bringing in stray and feral cats into the centre for the wellbeing of both our staff and the cats,” stated Hunt.
“It has been heart-breaking to discover today that the actions of this community member had placed an animal in a great deal of distress.” Hunt went on to say.
Ten Lives Cat Centre accepts cats by appointment between 10am and 2pm weekdays. Guidelines for bringing in a cat can be found here.
“On a morning when most of us are scraping the ice off our windscreens it’s horrible to think that someone would would place a cat in that situation.” Hunt said.
As for Buddy, who had been missing for 2 weeks, her adventure has now drawn to an end, fortunately for her she had been microchipped. After a day under the care of the Ten Lives hospital staff she will be returned to her owners.
Ten Lives is a self-funded not-for-profit organisation that relies on community donations and fundraising to keep the shelter running. On average it costs $600 to rehabilitate and rehome a cat.
Please consider supporting Ten Lives and the work they do by making a donation to our building fund here. The Ten Lives Building Project will deliver a world class facility and education programs to support both cats and the community.