A BRIDGWATER cat is lucky to be alive following a shocking snare incident and cat owners are in the town are being warned. 

Bridgwater resident Joanna White had a terrible shock when her cat, Rocky, returned with a snare wrapped tightly around his belly.  She managed to cut the cat free, but he suffered a nasty injury requiring veterinary attention and had blood in his urine.

The incident was reported to the National Anti-Snaring Campaign and Simon Wild, a spokesperson for the organisation, said: “Snares are mostly set by gamekeepers to catch foxes, but this is a home-made snare that could have been set by a householder trying to target foxes coming into their garden.”

Simon continued, issuing a warning to cat owners: “I think someone has found the cat and cut the snare which then run off with it attached. However, I think people should be cautious if walking in the countryside on the south and south-western part of Bridgwater.”

“Snares have been banned in Wales a year ago, and will be banned in Scotland on November 25.  We also have a commitment from the present government that they will be banned in England. But at present they remain legal in England, and this incident highlights the need to get them outlawed sooner than later.”

At the 2024 General Election earlier this year, the Labour Party committed to “end puppy smuggling and farming, along with the use of snare traps.”

The National Anti Snaring Campaign (NASC) is an animal welfare organisation that campaigns against the sale and manufacture of animal snares in the UK. The NASC was founded by Jaine and Simon Wild following outrage at badger snaring incidents on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.

The organisations aims are to increase public awareness of the cruelty of snares and traps and to collect and document incidents involving snares throughout the UK.