Cat cheats death after swallowing postie rubber bands

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."