Cat rescued from a car fan belt in his latest escapade
8:05am Friday 28th December 2012 in News
MOST cats are said to have nine lives — but Billy Ogle is no ordinary cat.
The feline, dubbed the toughest cat in Bolton, refuses to be defined by its hard start in life as a rescue case.
Billy had already lost three toes two years ago after a car ran over its paw when it was sleeping by the wheel.
The split paw led to almost fatal complications after Billy’s kidneys nearly failed from all of the operations.
But nothing could keep the moggy down and soon Billy was back out on the street.
But the 18-year-old’s latest scrape with a fan belt tested its grit to new levels and led to fire service rescue.
Bryn Farnworth, of Sandridge Close, Farnworth, started the engine of his car and heard a cat screaming in pain.
Mr Farnworth, who lives next door to Billy’s owner, John Ogle, said: “I know the cat because I whistle him every morning and he comes to our door for a fuss.
“I turned on the engine and it sounded like a flat battery, and then I heard screaming.
“When I lifted the bonnet I saw Billy with his paw trapped in the fan belt. I called the RSPCA because I didn’t know what to do. It was terrible.”
The RSPCA, the RAC and a vet were all called out before firefighters, using heavy-duty gloves, eventually rescued the cat from the yellow Fiat Punto.
It is thought Billy had crawled up from under the vehicle, where it was warm, and fallen asleep.
Mr Farnworth said: “It was terrible. He’s a tough little cat — hard as nails.”
But that was not the end of the ginger cat’s ordeal.
Billy was taken to the Darley House vets, in Farnworth, with an injured left paw and at risk of losing three more toes.
The cat also has kidney problems from his previous car accident and had to have seven operations before recovering two years ago.
However, this time the vet warned Billy’s owner, John Ogle, that the cat may not pull through.
Mr Ogle, of Sandridge Close, said: “I wasn’t in when he was rescued, but it’s not unusual for him sleep under cars.
“The vet wasn’t sure he would survive this time, but I know that cat.
“We rescued him when he was two and he’s been through the wars. But he’s forever outside and tough as nails. Billy’s definitely a different sort of cat.”
With his toes intact, Billy was reunited with Mr Ogle and his sons Jack, aged 11, and Thomas, aged 10.
