Cat cheats death after swallowing postie rubber bands

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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THEY have become a pet hate of residents up and down the country.
But one cat has more reason than most to detest the red rubber bands discarded in streets by posties – after they almost claimed his life.

Oscar the cat took ill on 23 December after swallowing at least two of the red bands dropped in the streets around his Craigentinny home.

His owner Allan Hildreth said the cat was so ill that he almost died, and because the bands did not show up on X-ray, vets struggled to find what was causing Oscar to be so sick – until he vomited them up.

The rubber bands had caused lasting damage to the cat as he had started to digest them, and even though they had left his system, he still needed an emergency stomach operation.

He was put on a drip because he was so dehydrated and also had to undergo an exploratory throat procedure while vets tried to establish the cause of his illness.

Oscar, who was in the veterinary practice all through Christmas and New Year, was released on Sunday, but is still confined to the house and has been put on a special liquidised diet.

Mr Hildreth will be sending Royal Mail a letter of official complaint – along with a number of discarded bands he has collected locally to prove just how many are dropped.

He described the act as a "selfish and thoughtless disregard for domestic pets and wildlife".

Civil servant Mr Hildreth, 40, said: "It's ruined our Christmas because at one point we didn't know if he was going to live or die. He has lost one of his lives as far as we're concerned.

"We can't currently let Oscar out because he is not well enough and we are scared he might swallow another band.

"He is miserable being inside and is so apathetic compared to what he usually is.

"We've got a bag full of bands that we have been collecting round the local streets since this happened and they (Royal Mail] need to take responsibility for this.

"We love our cat and he is our number one but this is a bigger environmental issue as we have got foxes up here as well.

"What would happen if a fox swallowed one of these bands?"

The total cost of Oscar's treatment will be more than £500 but, fortunately, Mr Hildreth has pet insurance.

He added: "We have spent a miserable Christmas and New Year wondering if he will make it, all because they don't deliver on their promise to put the elastic bands in their pockets. Should postmen be allowed to just drop them as litter without punishment when other people are fined?"

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "We are sorry to hear of this unfortunate incident and we would be happy to investigate this complaint as our people know they should not drop rubber bands.

"Royal Mail regularly stresses to its postmen and women the importance of avoiding litter and the vast majority of our rubber bands are recycled, with millions being re-used every week."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

sorry but thats pure clap trap.

I have a cat (did have 2 but one died after a fight with a fox), and it has never had any problems with rubber bands lying round my house and in my bag. It plays with them but is not stupid enough to try and eat them.

[Pinky 1]

Get a life Mr Hildreth, your heart is bleeding as if a family member has contracted an incureable disease !
It's a cat .......and cats do stupid things

[Biker Mouse]

That'll stop it cr*pping in my garden!

[smokerjim]

sorry but thats pure clap trap.

I have a cat (did have 2 but one died after a fight with a fox), and it has never had any problems with rubber bands lying round my house and in my bag. It plays with them but is not stupid enough to try and eat them.

Exactly the same with me - if cats did like eating them, I'd expect to see scores of them following me, like I'm smuggling catnip!

[antcpfc]

A man stopped me once and said I was killing birds by dropping bands.I told him it was natural selection as only stupid ones would die.

[donut]

Hope it`s not feline too bad now !!

[Lincox]

As far as the red bands go, they are so useless and break even on first use. As soon as you try to take them off the bundle, they break and can fly anywhere. Postmen have been complaining to Royal Mail about them for years, and yet again as you can see from the RM spokespersons comments, it's down to the postmen. Not the fact that they are supplying us with cheap useless products unfit for the job.

[DGP1]

A man stopped me once and said I was killing birds by dropping bands.I told him it was natural selection as only stupid ones would die.

[shadow]

I'm sure the wee cat will BOUNCE back and make a full recovery.

[noggin1969]

Hasn

[Stormproof]

A couple of my chickens have got hold of elastic bands thinking they were worms. It was like a Benny Hill sketch chasing them around the garden, they swallowed them and no I did'nt find them in any eggs

[banner18]

Asking posties to never drop elastic bands is like asking everyone who has a turd, to never leave a skid mark. Impossible and never going to happen. They snap and twang off. They slide out of the pockets. They get caught amongst a bundle and drop.
These people need to get real. How many obstacles do we have to deal with in people's gardens every day? Garden implements or their little brats leaving their toys strewn around. What a load of plop!

[jaja]

sorry but thats pure clap trap.

I have a cat (did have 2 but one died after a fight with a fox), and it has never had any problems with rubber bands lying round my house and in my bag. It plays with them but is not stupid enough to try and eat them.

my cat justs sh***s them out

[G O Root]

As far as the red bands go, they are so useless and break even on first use. As soon as you try to take them off the bundle, they break and can fly anywhere. Postmen have been complaining to Royal Mail about them for years, and yet again as you can see from the RM spokespersons comments, it's down to the postmen. Not the fact that they are supplying us with cheap useless products unfit for the job.

Completely agree. " Our people" (God i hate that) know not to drop them".