As an orphan in the wild, life was always going to be a big challenge for Babybell the kitten – even before she came across a mousetrap.
The tiny black and white stray sniffed out the cheese and her curiosity almost killed her.
The trap snapped shut on her front right paw and left her facing an agonising and slow death.
But luckily a passerby heard her faint cries coming from a garden in Lewknor, Oxon and they took her to a local pet charity.
Babybell was sent her to an animal hospital in London where vets had no option but amputate her right front leg.
Despite her handicap staff say she had made a remarkable recovery and will still make an adorable pet.
She is now five weeks old and has been named Babybell after the cheese by volunteers at the Blue Cross pet charity.
They say she should be ready for a new home in a month’s time.
Volunteer Sally Blackman said: “She is so young and was probably just naive and hungry so went to the mousetrap for food.
“She probably doesn’t know anything different than having three legs. She is very resilient.
“She is able to climb up on top of one of the scratching posts with just her three legs. She walks down the corridor and says hello to the other cats and kittens too.
“She is absolutely adorable. She will make a lovely pet.”
Cristina Bull, a veterinary surgeon at the charity, said: “The trap had caused irreversible neurological damage and the wound was infected.
“Babybell was very lucky she was found otherwise she wouldn’t have survived much longer.”
Lisa Kent, the charity’s animal welfare assistant, said: “Babybell is so young that she will adjust well to life with three legs.
“She’s already amazed us all with how well she’s doing after her operation.
“She’s very sweet and hopefully her disability won’t put people off giving her a home.”
Blue Cross has cared for over 40,000 sick, injured and homeless pets every year since it opened the world’s first animal hospital in 1906.
