After finishing work and heading home for the day, Leonardo Helicopters Engineer Adam Hughes was driving through RNAS Culdrose (one of the largest Helicopter basis in Europe) when he saw, what he thought was a piece of card in the road. When this began to move across the busy road he realised this was a small kitten. The kitten was clearly injured, as it ran, dragging its back leg behind it.

Having lost his own cat the previous day, he did not want the kitten to be in any pain or danger, he went to pick it up but they ran under a parked car on the opposite side of the road. At this point two Junior Pilots stopped to see what was going on, and the three men attempted to lure the Small Grey tabby kitten from under the car. However, the kitten had other ideas. Jumping onto the exhaust pipe and then into the engine chamber.

Now began the epic mission of taking the car engine apart to try and fish her out. Not used to human contact; she backed away into a small hole. Thankfully after taking the whole engine apart (with the owner’s permission) Adam was able to rescue the little kitten.

Knowing how important it was to get the kitten treated, he called The Cats Protection Adoption Centre in Cornwall, where he had previously adopted his cat from eleven years previous.

When the kitten arrived, it was clear that they had a broken leg, so was rushed to the vets, where the decision was made to operate immediately. In theatre the leg had to be amputated, in order to give the kitten the best quality of life possible.

The kitten is a little girl, and was named Fergie (after Sarah Ferguson who wrote a series of books about a helicopter called budgie).

Fergie is one of 3 kittens that have been evading our capture on RNAS Culdrose; she is a stray cat and has been placed in the care of one of our experienced fosterers while she recuperates. Not only will she have time to learn to walk as a tripod (3 legged) cat, but also to be socialised to human contact, and how to play correctly with fishing rod toys etc. She has a long journey a head of her, but she has already shown she is a little fighter.

Whilst she is with us she will be neutered, and microchipped, so that her future adopters will be safe knowing she has been given the best start to life. On average a cat coming into our centre cost‘s approximately £180, in the upcoming weeks Fergie’s care is estimated to cost £548.

Fergie is not yet fit to home, so we are not taking any enquiries at this time, but if you are able to spare just a few pounds to help Fergie, we would be most grateful.

If we are lucky enough to receive more than our target, any other money will go towards the care of cats and kittens that come into the centre.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.