A poor tabby cat is 'lucky to be alive' after it became wedged in a wall at an Oldham mill and was stuck there for at least a 'few days'. Now, a mission is underway to trace its owner as it survives on a drip at a local vets.
Pennine Pen Animal Rescue, based in Oldham, said they were approached by a workman who was working at the Belgrave Mill for assistance after he spotted the cats' head popping through a small hole in the wall. What staff found was a dehydrated cat that had been wedged there for a number of days.
On Monday afternoon (March 28), workers had to drill the wall beside the small gap the pet had become stuck in so that he could be pulled out to safety. He was later rushed to the vets and is currently surviving on a drip after becoming severely dehydrated.
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According to staff at Pennine Pen Animal Rescue, the cat, now identified as a male, has hurt his feet and nails where he had tried to scramble to free himself. They added he is 'extremely lucky to be alive' following the ordeal.
A public post shared on Monday evening said: "Today a workman came and asked for our help, he was working on the mills next to our rescue and knocking a wall down when he found this poor cat who had tried to fit through a small gap and was well and truly wedged in.
"The wall next to the cat had to be drilled to make a bit of space so we could pull him through and to safety. We rushed the cat to the vets as he had obviously been there a while and hurt their claws on their back feet trying to scramble up the wall.
"He is terrified, in shock and very dehydrated so on a drip. We do know the cat hasn't got a microchip and must of been stuck for a few days. He is very lucky to of been found alive."
"If anyone is missing a tabby and white cat from the Hathershaw or Fitton Hill area in Oldham and you think this little one could belong to you please message us. We will need proof of ownership to claim."
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , the rescue centre, based on Honeywell Lane added: "Part of the mill is being refurbished and the cat had just gone in to that part. It looks like he came through a gap in the roof but it was too high to get back out of so tried to get through the gap he got stuck in but literally couldn't budge.
"It was hard to get to him where he was and had to drill the area around him to get him free. He is an extremely lucky boy they went in this part when they did and that they actually spotted him"
Anyone with information is urged to get in touch with Pennine Pen Animal Rescue on Facebook or by calling 0161 621 0819.