Fundraiser to help cats like Pisa

Amelia Ohren holds her cat Pisa in Dunedin yesterday. Photo: Otago Daily Times / GREGOR RICHARDSON

Dunedin cat Pisa has an inquisitive lean after a clash with a hedge trimmer.

SPCA Otago business development manager Kirsty Thomson said the 2-year-old tabby was found injured in a North Taieri hedge that had been trimmed by an industrial tractor-driven cutter about New Year.

The cat was found in the hedge with no collar, or microchip.

It had ticks in a ''shredded'' ear, temporary deafness, an abscess on his eyeball and a neck injury, which made him tilt his head.

SPCA Otago rescued the cat, called him Pisa and raised funds for his urgent surgery.

''SPCA doesn't have all the funds in the world to be able to give expensive operations to every cat, but he is very special,'' Ms Thomson said.

Amelia Ohren said she adopted Pisa in June and the ''cuddly'' cat was in good health and eating well.

The head tilt made him look inquisitive, Miss Ohren said.

''He looks like he is questioning everything.''

Ms Thomson said SPCA Otago was wanting people to bake for its Cupcake Day fundraiser so money was available to rescue animals, like Pisa, and find them homes.

The fundraiser, in its seventh year, would be held on August 24. Last year, more than $10,000 was raised.

''Hopefully, we get to about $15,000 this year in Otago.''

The fundraising day was important because SPCA Otago received no government or local government funding.

People who wanted to be involved could visit www.spcacupcakeday.co.nz.shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz