Bear the kitten survives Christmas scare thanks to vets’ charity
The six-month-old underwent a life-saving operation after he swallowed the netting from a beef joint last year.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A six-month-old kitten used up one of his nine lives after he ate the netting from his owner’s Christmas roast beef and had to undergo emergency surgery.
Vets from the PDSA charity acted swiftly to save Bear after the netting from the beef joint caused a blockage in his intestines which almost killed him.
It happened on Boxing Day last year when Bear helped himself to leftovers at his owner Joshua Simpson’s home in Darlington.
The kitten was initially treated at his local vet but it became apparent more needed to be done and Mr Simpson could not afford the work as he was jobless at the time.
Bear was treated by the PDSA vet in Middlesbrough and an X-ray confirmed he had a blockage in his intestine which needed to be removed urgently.
Vet Gabrielle Fish said: “The operation took nearly five hours. Thankfully, we were able to remove all the string but we also had to remove two inches of Bear’s intestines that were too damaged to be repaired.”
Mr Simpson, 32, said: “When the vets showed us what they’d pulled out of Bear I immediately recognised it – the netting off the roast beef we’d had on Christmas Day.
“In the chaos of the day we must’ve left it out, and he’d been attracted by the smell.
“We felt awful, so now we’re careful to put everything away immediately and never leave food or leftovers out.”
He added: “This was our first time using PDSA and the treatment was outstanding.
“I was out of work for a few months when this happened, and I just couldn’t have afforded the life-saving operation he needed.
“I want to say a huge thank you to PDSA for all their help and support – without the incredible team at Middlesbrough Pet Hospital, we wouldn’t have Bear with us for his second Christmas.”
The PDSA expects to see around 23,000 pets over the two-week Christmas break and is appealing for the public’s help to support free or low-cost treatment.
To find out more visit www.pdsa.org.uk/saveastar