A stray kitten has been dubbed ‘Piper’ after being rescued from an outlet pipe in an industrial bin in Dandenong South.
On Friday afternoon 26 April, a factory worker found Piper with her head improbably wedged outside the bin and her body inside.
RSPCA inspector Maree however said it was a fairly “typical” occurrence.
Stray cats often rummaging in rubbish bins for food will get spooked or head for light and get stuck in the drainage hole.
“She is a very lucky cat to have someone that had sighted her stuck in the bin and reported it, otherwise it may not have been a positive outcome.”
Maree initially tried to free the “quite relaxed, most likely exhausted” feline by greasing her with Vaseline and manoeuvring her head.
CFA officers were then called.
During a delicate hour-long operation, a small angle grinder was used to cut away sections of the outlet encasing Piper’s neck.
At the time, Piper’s body condition was light. Maree suspects she could have been stuck over the preceding Easter break.
“She was accepting of being handled, but this could have been put down to the exhaustion as stray cats normally do not act this way.
‘Afterwards, she couldn’t get enough attention; she was purring and was well behaved for her vet exam. She is constantly seeking attention now.”
Piper was treated at an RSPCA clinic and taken to a foster home to gain weight.
She will then be available for adoption.
“She would suit a home that can provide a lot of attention and affection towards her, so perhaps a family environment would suit her,” Maree said.
“She seems to be a pretty sweet cat.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said several requests had been made to adopt Piper since the story was posted on the association’s Facebook page.
“While she will need to be in foster care until she is ready for adoption, we do have many other kittens who desperately need homes.”
RSPCA Victoria is extending its ‘no fees for felines’ campaign to urgently help re-home more than 1500 cats in its care.
More than 770 of them were lodged at their Burwood and Pearcedale sites.
Greater Dandenong Council has recently put a stay on trapping stray and feral cats due to its contracted pound being filled.
The strain on cat shelters remains despite the RSPCA rehoming more than 900 cats last month.
RSPCA state operations head Tegan McPherson said a long, dry summer had extended the traditional cat-breeding season and created a “cat problem”.
“Historically these types of campaigns help us rehome the 10,000 cats we receive annually,” said RSPCA state operations head Tegan McPherson.
“But this year we’re being inundated and just can’t keep up with the demand.”
As part of the RSPCA campaign, adoption fees will be waived for all cats, with reduced fees for desexing, microchipping and vaccinating the adoptees.
Kittens under five months can be adopted for a discounted price of $50.
The campaign runs until 31 May.
