Cat Loses leg in Shocking Airgun Attack

PDSA vets help cat get back onto three paws

A cat from Birmingham has been left with life-changing injuries after his leg was amputated following a horrific airgun attack.

Seven-year-old ‘Teddy Bear’ the cat was taken to Aston PDSA Pet Hospital by his worried owners Rhian and Sharon Bhatoe after coming home with an injury to his leg.

Pictured is Teddy Bear the Cat who was shot with a pellet which shattered his right leg resulting in it being amputated. He is pictured with Freddie Allan (Vet Surgeon) and his owners Sharon Bhatoe (Left) and Rhian Bhatoe (Right) at the PDSA Aston Hospital. Picture by Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix Ltd

“Teddy Bear hadn’t been home in a few days which was really out of character, and when he finally turned up I noticed he had a small wound on his leg, but I didn’t know what it was,” said Rhian. “I cleaned it up and kept a close eye on him. He seemed to be getting on ok, but then a week later his leg started to swell up and I realised it must be something more serious so I took him straight to the vet.”

After arriving at the Pet Hospital, located on Dulverton Road Teddy Bear was examined by the charity’s vets, who could see he was in a lot of pain. X-rays revealed the shocking cause – an airgun pellet was lodged in the muscle of his leg.

“X-rays showed that Teddy Bear had sustained a really nasty injury to his hind leg which had been caused by an airgun pellet fracturing the bone. Thankfully, the pellet missed his pelvis, as this would have caused even more serious complications.” said PDSA Vet Freddie Allan. “This sort of injury is extremely painful and carries a high risk of bone infection. The damage was so extensive that we were sadly unable to save Teddy Bear’s leg and the decision was made to amputate.”

Owner Rhian said: “The team at PDSA really did their best to put our minds at ease. We were so worried that Teddy Bear would have to be put down but they reassured us that they would do everything they could to save his life.”

Teddy Bear was allowed to go home on strict rest and was booked in for urgent surgery at the local Aston PDSA Pet Hospital, where the team removed his leg during a 60 minute operation. He was also neutered at the Pet Hospital to help reduce his risk of future fighting and roaming.

PDSA Vet Freddie added: “Air pellet injuries like this can be really difficult to spot as the wounds tend be very small, plus cats can be very good at hiding when they are in pain. We always recommend that you get any unexplained marks or injuries on your cat checked over by a vet as soon as possible.”

Following surgery, Teddy Bear stayed at the Pet Hospital overnight, where he was given fluids, pain relief and was closely monitored. The next day, he was able to go home with a buster collar to protect the wound and painkillers to continue his recovery. He visited the Hospital for regular check-ups to monitor his recovery and, despite some initial issues with his surgical wound, is recovering well.

“He is adjusting well to life on three legs,” says Rhian. “He is still quite active and getting around. The care Teddy Bear received from PDSA was excellent. The staff were so kind and helpful. I know that Teddy Bear’s treatment cost the charity over £1000, which I wouldn’t have been able to afford, so I’m incredibly grateful for the support PDSA has provided.”

Freddie added: “I’m one of nine newly qualified vets whose roles are kindly being supported this year thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. As a newly qualified vet, PDSA’s dedicated Graduate Scheme is enabling me to gain valuable experience and skills to save pets’ lives like Teddy Bear’s. Over the last seven years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £8.5m in ongoing support for PDSA.”

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7 thoughts on “Cat Loses leg in Shocking Airgun Attack

  1. Léa says:

    All the best to Teddy Bear, the wonderful you vet and all who made this possible. As for the perpetrator or perpetrators of this dispicable act, I’ve no doubt that they will go on to do even more damage as there is a pattern in this behavoir and they must be held accountable.

    • Marc-André says:

      Hi ttigiras this is following on from an article for calling for harsher rules and restrictions on airguns in which the charity clearly condemned such actions as this. 🙁

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