A cat, now named Bobby Robert, believed to be feral or a long-term stray, was discovered in a dire condition by a member of the public on the morning of Saturday, November 2. The incident occurred in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, where a firework caused a garage blaze. Bobby was seen fleeing the fire, reportedly on fire himself as he ran out.
The finder contacted Independent Cat Rescue Prestwich, a charity managed by Ashlea Franks and her mother, Barbara Franks. Without delay, they took Bobby to a veterinarian for emergency care.
The blaze left Bobby with severe injuries. Most of his fur, including his whiskers, was singed off, and he sustained significant burns on his paws, body, nose, and mouth. The burns caused him intense pain, making him reluctant to move or eat. Fortunately, he suffered no long-term injuries.
Ashlea commented, “Bobby was incredibly fortunate. His thick fur coat likely saved his life.”
The first week of Bobby’s recovery was challenging. He avoided putting weight on his burned paws and struggled to eat or stand due to the pain. However, with multiple vet treatments, his condition began to improve. His paw pads are healing, though it will take time for them to fully recover.
Initially, Bobby was wary and distrustful of people, a likely result of his traumatic experience. Over time, however, he has started to trust those helping him.
“He’s already looking like a completely different cat,” Ashlea said. “He’s beginning to trust us and is the sweetest cat. Thankfully, he hasn’t sustained any injuries that will affect him in the long term and is expected to make a full recovery.”
In support of Bobby’s recovery, Lorraine Boswell and her family climbed Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales to raise funds for his vet bills. Lorraine, a dedicated supporter of the charity, explained, “When I saw his badly burned little face, I knew I had to do something. Bobby deserved every chance Ashlea and Barbara were giving him, so I set up my sponsored event.”
This isn’t Lorraine’s first fundraising effort. Last year, she climbed Ingleborough, also in the Yorkshire Dales, to help another injured cat. For Bobby’s fundraiser, her initial target was £750, which was met within four days due to overwhelming support. To date, she has raised over £2,300 for Bobby’s care.
“There has been an incredible outpouring of compassion and generosity for Bobby,” Lorraine shared. “I’m happy to climb for Bobby—we are ‘Team Bobby!’ Seeing his beautiful little face now with some new whiskers growing is truly heartwarming.”
Bobby continues to make remarkable progress in his recovery, and efforts are underway to find him a loving new home.
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