Kitten left with three legs rehomed after abuse by former owner
Moose was only able to move his eyes after the third attack
Last updated 1st Sep 2025
A six month-old kitten who was so badly beaten he was left paralysed and only able to move his eyes has been rehomed after making a recovery in RSPCA care.
Moose wasn’t expected to survive after enduring a third brutal attack which caused a brain trauma.
He now has three legs - one had to be amputated due to the severity of a fracture sustained during one attack - and he suffers from tremors due to his head injury and a fractured tail.
But the RSPCA say he's now loving life with his new owner Jenny Peters (74) at her home in Pennington, Hampshire.
The animal welfare charity is highlighting the story as part of its Summer Cruelty Campaign - showing the side of this season which many people don’t see - when animal cruelty reports peak.
In June, July and August last year the RSPCA took 34,401 cruelty calls to their emergency line - compared to 25,887 the year before - up by a third.
On average it took 374 reports of cruelty against animals every single day during this period or one call every two minutes the line was open.
Moose was just a few months old when he was abused by his former owner on at least three separate occasions in March and April 2023.
The attacks were reported to the RSPCA when he was taken by his then owner to a vet surgery three times in a six week period and each time he had significant injury.
Moose was found to have sustained a fractured leg during the first attack which resulted in amputation.
The second was a fractured tail that resulted in the complete loss of the use of his tail for a number of weeks.
The third was the most serious and was an unknown impact which caused significant trauma to the brain - leaving him completely paralysed.
Moose could only move his eyes and was not expected to survive - but the vet teams worked hard to save him.
He was then moved into the care of the RSPCA Ashley Heath Centre and after months of rehabilitation he was rehomed.
RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey (pictured below), who investigated the case in which a man was prosecuted, said: “Moose has made a miraculous recovery from the day I first saw him. He was unable to move anything other than his eyes as he was paralysed and looking so helpless it was really heart-wrenching to see.
“But he has gone from being a cat who could only move his eyes and nothing else, to a cat now living his best life in a new home, all be it on three legs!
“In the early stages we had many conversations and were really uncertain as to whether he would pull through from such severe injuries but this little chap had a determination to live and kept impressing veterinary staff with his mini-progress. It wasn't a quick or easy transformation, but I find his recovery incredible to be honest.
“When we moved him into the care of RSPCA Ashley Heath Moose’s personality came out more and he became a happy, affectionate, active, playful cat. He became a firm favourite with staff there and I am delighted he is now loving life in a new home.”
Jenny Peters, adopted Moose in November 2023, and said the now mischievous cat has overcome his bad start in life and likes to play and run around the house and especially loves leaping onto her bed.
She said: “I have had cats all my life and lost my last cat at the age of 23 the previous month - so I was just driving past Ashley Heath and thought ‘I wonder if they have any cats which might need a special home’ so I called them and was told about a few cats including Moose.
“I wanted to help a cat that I thought might be difficult to rehome - and because of his health issues Moose fitted the bill - I also love black cats.
“So I went to see him a few days later and he played with me and he playfully bit me - so I thought that is it we have bonded he best come home with me.
“He is a delight - he is an indoor cat so has plenty of energy and loves running around the house and is super fast on three legs. He loves jumping after toys if you throw them and landing on the bed. He really doesn’t let his loss of a leg get in the way of fun.
“It is amazing too that he loves absolutely everyone and he has no fear which is great because I was worried he would be about mentally scarred from what has happened in the past.
“He can get wobbly and sometimes tremors in his sleep but he has plenty of character and everyone who meets him loves him and loves me picking him up for cuddles. His story just shows the transformation that is possible and I am so grateful for the work the RSPCA did to help Moose and many others like him and fully support their Summer Cruelty Campaign .”
RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, an expert in cruelty cases, added: “We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of seasonal calls reporting animal cruelty to our emergency line. Sadly the summer months tend to be when these reports peak which is leading to a welfare crisis.
“We don’t know for sure why cruelty peaks at this time of year - but the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic has played a factor, while the longer days mean more people may witness and report such violence.
“This year, sadly, we fear the trend will continue and we are already busier than ever rescuing animals from many awful situations. Many are broken by violence - not just physically but mentally - and our dedicated network of branches, animal centres and rescue teams work wonders in nursing them back to health and showing them how love can help transform their lives.
“Together, we can rescue animals from the worst cruelty, provide life-saving treatment, and give them all the care and love they urgently need. We’re so grateful to anyone backing the Summer Cruelty Appeal and choosing to donate.”