Cat suffering from devastating injuries after brutal seagull attack in seaside town

Stray cat Pudding was cared for by Exeter Council and local binmen after she was brutally attacked by seagulls earlier this week.

By Liam Doyle, News Reporter

Pudding the cat

Seagulls cause devastating injuries in attack on cat in seaside town (Image: EXETER COUNCIL)

A stray cat was left with a feared broken leg and other injuries following a brutal attack by a flock of seagulls in Exeter, a council has revealed.

Pudding, a stray who has made a home between two adjacent bin depots in the city, was attacked by the birds on Monday, July 2, and narrowly avoided being hit by a bus.

She was found by depot staff "clearly in a great deal of pain", the council said, and after coming to her rescue, the workers have raised money to nurse her back to health.

Exeter City Council said Pudding was limping badly when she was discovered by binmen on Monday, and that the Cats Protection Society found she had a "nasty cut" on her shoulder.

Members of the society - a leading cat welfare charity - feared she had broken her leg while fleeing her seagull attackers across the road.

She was found cowering in her bin depot home by staff, who spent much of the day anxiously awaiting news of her condition.

The society eventually confirmed that she had only suffered surface wounds and was given stitches and antibiotics.

They added she was "clearly a happy cat", and that she could quickly return to her home on Exton Road, which she had adopted a few years ago.

The Cats Protection Society issued her a shelter on the site administered by Devon County Council, in which she sleeps every night.

Pudding the cat

Pudding the cat has made a home between two depots (Image: EXETER COUNCIL)

Pudding the cat

Pudding is now safe and sound following her ordeal (Image: EXETER COUNCIL)

Pudding also has a second home in a shelter outside Exeter City Council’s Oakwood House offices next door.

Council staff named her and have fed and cared for the cat since she made her home in the area.

She had returned by Tuesday, July 4, and was blissfully sleeping in her shelter box, on the road to recovery.

After celebrating her return, crews at the depot immediately set about fundraising for her treatment and collected £100 to cover the costs.

Crews and office staff contributed so willingly that the fundraising goal was met by 9am that morning.

The council said everyone in the "Exton Road family" wanted to "express a huge thank you to the Cats Protection Society for helping her through her ordeal".

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?