A few months ago, a gardener was working in San Clemente, USA, when he spotted a young feline hiding in the bushes. The animal seemed to be in a very bad way; it had lost a lot of its fur and was unable to move.
As he got closer, the man realised it wasn't just a domestic cat, but a young bobcat.
A tiny bobcat on the brink of death
Deeply concerned, the gardener quickly took the animal to a rescue centre, which then transferred her to the Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital. When she arrived, the little female's condition was critical. She was suffering from severe mange, had lost most of her fur, and was extremely emaciated.
According to the vets, she was on the verge of death. The team had to perform CPR to bring her back to life. Shortly after, the young bobcat also received an emergency blood transfusion, thanks to a donation from a cat belonging to a veterinary technician. Without this intervention, she likely wouldn't have survived.
A long road to recovery
Once she was stable, the little patient was entrusted to the San Diego Humane Society to continue her recovery. Her carers discovered that her mange had likely been worsened by ingesting rodenticides. These are poisons used to control rodents, which weaken the immune systems of wild animals.
Placed in the centre's medical unit, the young bobcat received anti-parasitic treatments, iron supplements, and IV fluids. After two months of intensive care, she was able to be moved to an outdoor enclosure to gradually readjust to life in the wild.
Over the following weeks, her transformation was incredible. After four months of rehabilitation, the little bobcat had a beautiful coat again and was bursting with energy. The teams decided she was ready to return to the wild.
On the day of her release, carers from both organisations gathered to witness the long-awaited moment. As soon as the cage was opened, the young bobcat leapt out of her crate and disappeared into the bushes at top speed.
