SPCA steps in after Queenstown cat caught in gin trap

A cat owner at Arrow Junction is on a mission to educate others about the dangers of gin traps after his beloved pet Polo was caught in one in recent weeks.

Arrow Junction resident Simon Melville was "horrified" when Polo came home with a leg hold trap attached to a rear leg.

"This was one of the old school, jaw style traps, which weighed over 1.2kgs, and the poor cat only weighed, like, three and a half kgs.

"He pulled the stake out of the ground and dragged himself all the way back."

Polo dragged himself home with a harmful trap attached to his leg (Images: Supplied).

After thousands of dollars in vet bills, Polo looks set to make a full recovery, but Mr Melville is not content to cross his fingers and hope nothing like this happens again, particularly as he has had an earlier cat go missing and is now reassessing what may have been its fate.

He has teamed up with the SPCA to make sure other households in his neighbourhood are aware of when such traps can be used - and when they cannot.

SPCA inspector Alana Cooper has created a flyer to be distributed to letterboxes in the area with details on the legal ins and outs for anyone considering leg hold traps for pest control.

Rules set out what types and sizes of these traps are allowed, as well as prohibit their use within 150 metres of any dwelling without the occupant's consent.

The penalty for breaking the rules and an animal being hurt in the process, up to 12 months in prison and/or a $50,000 fine in the case of an individual, or a fine of up to $250,000 for a body corporate, Ms Cooper says.

As news of Polo's ordeal has spread, Mr Melville has heard from other families in and around Queenstown traumatised by similar injuries in similar circumstances to beloved feline companions.

"It's just horrendous that people are still using these leg hold traps," he says.

"The problem that bugs me the most is whoever's trying to do this, I don't think they're probably trying to get the cats. I think they're probably more after possums and stoats and rabbits, but there is a far more humane way of disposing of those animals than using gin traps."

He thinks cage traps are one better option, for example.

Mr Melville has reported the incident to police, who are now in possession of the gin trap that caught Polo.

More information on leg hold traps can be found on the website of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Two more Cromwell cats maimed by gin traps

Main images (Supplied): Arrow Junction pet Polo and the gin trap that caught one of his rear legs.