Injured cat found thanks to five-week search in Warminster

The five-year-old male Tabby – now named Francis - was found resting under the wheel of a car on April 20 by two volunteers from Westbury working for the Search and Scan rescue charity.

Injured Francis was located after a five-week search by volunteers. (Image: Lenny Young)

One of them, Lenny Young, 48, said: “This poor boy was brought to our attention around March 13. The reports were heartbreaking. People said he was hopping on three legs.

“Others said he was dragging his hind legs behind him. Whatever the case, we knew this boy was injured and needed desperate help and so our search began.

“For nearly six weeks, SAS volunteer Tracy Bolton and I began gathering as much information as possible and became regular late-night visitors to Warminster.

“We often stayed out to 3am in the morning, flashing our red and green torches into as many nooks and crannies as possible in the hopes we would see him.”

But Francis managed to stay one-step ahead of the team, despite an injury to his right front leg, and often gave them the slip by moving to a different area.

In desperation, Lenny placed a local social media post asking Warminster residents to contact her with sightings, precise location and date/time seen.

“It wasn't long before my phone was regularly alerting me to incoming texts/WhatsApp messages accompanied with photos and videos.

“The map of sightings we had published for the people to view was regularly updated and we began to have some real clarification of his territory.”

Diane Oliver, a fosterer of Cats in Distress, who lived in the area of his most recent sightings, also joined in the search, stepping in during the times Lenny and Tracy were unable to attend.

Lenny, who has volunteered with SAS for the past year, named the cat Francis, after Francis of Assisi, and says from that moment their luck changed.

On Thursday, April 20, she looked at their sightings map and zoned in to the One Stop Sho /Woodcock Road/Imberwood Close area of Warminster.

“Our instincts paid off," said Lenny. "Francis was quickly located, resting under the wheel of a car.  As night fell, the trap was in place. Diane delivered hot tuna to which the enticing aroma wafted to him. Before we knew it, Francis was safely captured.”

The trap is set for Francis close to the car under which he sheltered. (Image: Lenny Ypung)

Francis was taken by the SAS team to the Harris Hill and Gibbons veterinary centre in Trowbridge for a check-up and medication.

Lenny said: “He looked a very sad state; his eyes were mucky with infection, there was evidence of fighting wounds visible on him and he was filthy with dirt embedded in his fur.

“He also had a bit of attitude and made this known to the vet - we can't blame him really. Francis was so scared and had obviously been living a life of walking on egg shells.

“The vet was unable to find evidence of any broken limbs.  He was aged approximately five years. Francis was not microchipped and definitely not neutered. We weren't surprised to hear this.”

Francis is now recovering from his ordeal in a Cats in Distress rescue centre (Image: Lenny Young)

After being given pain relief and antibiotics, Francis was taken to the Cats in Distress rescue centre run by Ginny Parratt at Berkeley near Frome.

Lenny added: “We want to thank the many people who assisted us in helping to give Francis this opportunity for a happier future. To the many people who chose not to turn a blind eye - thank you!”