*Warning* images may cause distress*
The RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat which had severe ear cancer was found trapped in a home-made snare.
A man spotted the cat with his neck caught in a snare – which tightens as the animal tried to get free – in his garden in Moorside Road, Werrington, near Stoke. 
He went to cut the wire which had been digging into the cat’s neck to relieve her suffering and then reported the matter to the RSPCA.
Animal Rescuer Julie Lyons was sent to the scene on Saturday October 17 and could see deep cuts and scabs around the elderly cat’s neck and also an untreated cancer growth in her ear. The cat was also underweight and dehydrated.
Julie rushed the cat to a nearby vet’s but sadly the vet decided as she was in a collapsed state suffering from neck wounds and various medical conditions including cancer, the kindest option was to put her to sleep to end her suffering.
Julie said: “This poor cat was treated terribly not just to be caught in this barbarous snare but it would appear that she was also suffering from untreated cancer of the ear – which was quite visible. She was not microchipped so I would like to trace her owner and would ask anyone who recognises the cat to get in touch.
“Also, I am keen to find the person responsible for putting down the snare which left this poor frightened cat in horrific pain. There are strict legal conditions on setting certain types of traps and if they are not set in the right way non-target animals, like this cat can get injured or even killed. If this happens the person setting the trap could potentially be committing an offence.”
The RSPCA is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares – which are sadly legal to catch certain wild animals – and any trap which causes suffering.
Snares can’t distinguish between animals and it is thought that up many snared animals are not the intended species.
