A roaming cat called Pudding was left in a ‘great deal of pain’ after being assaulted by seagulls.
Pudding suffered injuries to her leg after she was pecked by the birds in Exeter, Devon.
The cat has actually called 2 county council-owned bin and recycling depots home for the last few years.
Refuse workers have long cared for pudding, often found sleeping at a cat welfare charity shelter set up at the site or outside the city council’s offices next door.
But Pudding was attacked by seagulls on July 3, Exeter City Council said, and as she attempted to get away was almost run over by a bus.
She was discovered by recycling centre employees concealing in her shelter and ‘clearly in a great deal of pain’.
‘They managed to keep her safe until the Cats Protection Society could pick her up to assess her injuries,’ the council said.
‘She was limping badly and had a nasty cut on her shoulder. It was feared she had broken her leg.’
Crews from both depots spent most of the day ‘anxiously’ waiting for word from the charity about Pudding’s injuries, preparing for the worst.
Thankfully, the Cats Protection Society said Pudding only suffered a flesh wound and, after some rest and antibiotics, was back to being a ‘happy cat’ in no time.
‘On Tuesday morning she was back sleeping in her box, recovering from her ordeal,’ the council added.
The City Council’s bin crews set up a collection pot to raise the cash needed to pay for Pudding’s £100 medical bills that morning.
By 9am, workers and office staff had chipped in more than enough to cover the costs.
‘Everyone in Pudding’s Exton Road family wants to express a huge thank you to the Cats Protection Society for helping her through her ordeal,’ the council said.
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