Cat in Amherstburg who was caught in trap could lose paw

A cat is recovering after being found with its leg stuck in a trap in Amherstburg recently.

The animal was found by a resident and brought to Wings Rehab Centre before being transferred to the humane society.

Windsor/Essex County Humane Society Executive Director Melanie Coulter said the cat — who has been dubbed Bubba Gumption — may have to lose his paw, which was crushed by the trap.

"He's doing really well. He was rough shape when he arrived. He was very emaciated, he was weak. The trap had been on his leg for some time and that took a toll on him," she said.

The animal is currently receiving medication and food to regain its strength before surgery.

"Hopefully he will heal but if not, we're still confident he'll have a good recovery and a good life on three paws," she said.

The cat, who is around 10 years old, has likely lived with people in the past as well as on his own, Coulter said. The humane society is taking steps to ensure no one is missing the animal, but will be looking for a home for the cat once it has recovered.

Domestic animals getting stuck in wildlife traps is something the humane society has seen before, Coulter said.

Gripping traps, like the one the cat was stuck in, or using a traps to capture an animal for relocation can cause harm, Coulter said.

"If you're having a conflict with wildlife, it's much more important to consider options to exclude them or to address what's attracting them to the area as opposed to just trapping and removing them," she said.

'Not surprising'

Michael Howie, director of communication and advocacy for The Fur-Bearers, said the organization sees incidents involving domestic animals caught in different traps every year.

"It is always tragic but sadly not surprising anymore," he said.

The wildlife advocacy group learned about this case through a social media post from the person who found it.

The post said the animal was found Sunday with the trap dragging behind it in a backyard in Amherstburg's Malden Centre neighbourhood.

The organization believes the specific trap involved — a cuff-style device intended to trap raccoons — is legal but it's not known whether the trap was set lawfully.

He said animals go through immense distress and awful injuries while trying to escape such traps, even ones that may be labelled "humane."

He encouraged anyone having problems with wildlife on their property to contact professionals who can relocate the animals safely and in compliance with regulations.

"Even though these traps may be legal at times, it is not a solution to preventing negative encounters with wildlife," he said.