Hikers found something unusual in the snow in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. Circling something in the snow was a flock of sheep, and when they got closer, they saw it was a tiny-striped kitten.
The kitten couldn’t reach its feet because it was so cold and covered in snow, so the hikers carried it 3 miles (ca. 5 km) back to civilization. It was tough to watch. It was obvious that it was suffering. Likewise, it’s terrible…
Peter McNab said, “My friend and I found him. He was very tiny– probably only a few months old. We grew up with cats, so we thought he might be a house cat that had escaped.”
The cat was “completely frozen,” and his fur “tangled from lying in the snow.”
They learned fantastic news about their new furry friend at the vet clinic.
The vets told the group they suspected he was a feral cat because of the kitten’s personality.
The experts said it was a wonder the individual could carry the wildcat three miles without being injured, as the animal’s claws were like miniature razors. They joked that it was a wildcat because of this fact.
Pete became very attached to the cat, so he asked the vets to report how the treatment was going. But unfortunately, the following day, he received an unpleasant call…
The next day the wild cat sadly died, but the experience of helping it touched the hearts of the three men. They were glad they could give the kitten a chance at a better life, even if it were only for a short time.
This moving experience inspired Peter and Pete to start a fundraiser to raise £1,000 ($1,373) for a charity that helps feral cats. Feral cat colonies often live near human settlements and scavenge for food, so they are at risk of being hit by cars or poisoned. They can also contract diseases that can be passed on to house pets.
It turns out that the Scottish wildcat is the most threatened mammal in the United Kingdom and one of the most endangered in Europe. “There are approximately 100 to 300 individuals left in the wild,” and “the primary threat to the species is hybridization with domestic and feral cats.”
This cat, which men rescued, was one of them. Unfortunately… Not everyone can be saved.
