Frequently asked questions
You can find answers to our most frequently asked questions by searching on a keyword or category on the right.
Alternatively, why not ask our virtual assistant Annie.
Cats or dogs that are trapped
A cat or dog that becomes trapped in a hole or drain will often be able to free itself eventually.
Cats may escape down a hole if they are scared. If this happens, stay near the hole and speak gently to the cat to try and persuade it to come out. You could also put some strong smelling food such as tuna, pilchards or sardines around the entrance to the hole, to attract the cat out. Do not put food on a stick and poke it down the hole – this could injure the cat and distress it.
When the cat eventually comes out of the hole, wrap it in a soft jumper or towel to reassure it. Have a cat basket handy to ensure that it does not escape again.
If a dog goes down a hole, it should be treated in a similar way. Speak gently to it and try to entice it out of the hole with food.
The length of time that it’s okay for an animal to be down a hole depends on the weather conditions, the animal’s age and health, where the hole is and what type of hole it is.
It is illegal to disturb/dig into a badger sett. Identifying which animal a hole belongs to is difficult so the best thing to do is seek advice from an organisation such as your local wildlife trust, local authority, badger group or Natural England (NE)/Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). If you or the organisation you contact suspects that the hole belongs to a badger, further advice should be sought from NE or CCW. See our FAQ A dog trapped in a badger sett for more information about what to do if a dog has gone down a hole dug by a badger.
If you are convinced that an animal is stuck in a hole and can’t get out without help, then we suggest you contact our 24-hour cruelty and advice line 0300 1234 999 to report the incident. In the event that we are unable to attend the incident, you could contact the local fire service to see whether they can help.
If an animal has become trapped in a building or outhouse and you can’t locate the owner to advise them of the situation so that they can let it out, please contact us on the 24-hour cruelty and advice line above. If we are not able to assist, phone your local fire service to see if they can release the animal. Alternatively, the local police may be able to help.
See a list of our FAQs.
