The RSPCA is asking the public to take care when trying to control rats and mice after a cat needed to have her head cut free from a rat bait box.
On Monday, the female cat was found in a yard at Paddock Farm Nursery and Water Garden in Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington in County Durham, in a distressed state after she became stuck with her head almost completely encased inside the box. She was rescued by RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ruth Thomas-Coxon, who managed to calm the poor moggy down.
She then took her to a veterinary hospital in Darlington where staff were fortunately able to free her. In an intricate and difficult procedure they used a saw to cut away the plastic frame of the device while the cat was under anaesthetic.
