Bobcat Hit By Car On Thanksgiving On Road To Recovery

RICHMOND, VA — Almost two months after an unsuspecting driver on her way to work heard a thump and later found an injured and angry bobcat trapped in the car's grill, the animal's broken jaw has healed allowing caretakers to again feed her solid food. That's good news for the ailing cat, which was described as "feisty" by workers at the wildlife center where she's been recovering, and where she has lost weight while on a liquid diet of rat slurries.

An unnamed driver thought she might have struck something on a remote stretch of road in Gloucester County, Virginia, on Thanksgiving morning. Once she parked at her workplace — about 50 miles down the road — she checked her car, and was alarmed to find the hurt and unhappy bobcat. Two officers from Richmond Animal Care and Controlsedated and freed the feline so she could be treated. "(S)he was so beautiful and had perfect feet. DGIF said they've never seen anything like this before. It was crazy," one of the officers wrote on the agency's Facebook page.

Noting that the mishap took place on Thanksgiving, the officers said they were grateful for a sedative to disarm the hissing animal, so they could take it to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro for treatment and release.

On Jan. 22, the center's staff gave the bobcat a follow-up examination once she was sedated to undergo a complete set of radiographs, blood work, and urinalysis. Veterinarians at the wildlife center said "while the cat has been readily eating her diet of rat slurries as her jaw fracture healed, the liquefied diet offered in captivity hasn’t quite kept the bobcat’s weight steady. Fortunately, Dr. Monica was very happy to confirm that the cat’s jaw fracture has fully healed on radiographs, which means that the bobcat is ready for whole food again."

In the coming weeks, the bobcat will be offered a variety of whole and live prey; the staff will carefully monitor its diet to ensure she successfully transitions back to whole food. Depending on her transition to whole food, center staff said they hope to release her in late February. Bobcats eat a variety of small to medium-sized prey, including mice, rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons; occasionally young (or ill) white-tailed deer, caretakers said.

Facebook followers of the Richmond Animal Care and Control officer praised the work of all the officers and specialists involved. Wrote reader Fleur Duggan, "Great to know that you can lose weight on rat slurry milkshakes...the new diet trend! Maybe not..."

You can donate to the center to help with care of the ailing bobcat and other wildlife.

Photos courtesy of Richmond Animal Care and Control and Wildlife Center of Virginia