A cat that managed to survive a rather sticky situation is continuing his fight for life, after getting stuck in some freshly-laid bitumen on a freezing cold night.
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Discovered by two workmen early Monday morning, it's believed Jasper sought out the warmth of the bitumen as temperatures plummeted on Sunday night.
However, the asphalt acted like quicksand and he soon found himself unable to get out.
Fortunately, Jasper's rescuers didn't hesitate to help, spending two hours massaging baby oil into his coat to help loosen the bitumen and eventually set him free.
Just Cats founder Rachel Beech said when Jasper was brought to them there was still a lot of work to do.
He was covered in bitumen, dehydrated, hungry, scared and lethargic.
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However, he was still one lucky cat.
"It's just one of those stories that could have been so much worse - a disaster," Ms Beech said.
"It was all dependant on the workmen who found him and the fact they decided to help him, and not just leave him there to die.
"You can just imagine what could have happened if he was left set there.
"But these guys worked for two hours to try and get him out."
Despite making a significant recovery, Jasper had to be rushed to the vet on Monday night after experiencing breathing difficulties.
"He had to be put on oxygen," Ms Beech explained.
"We're not sure if it's toxic fumes from the bitumen or if he's actually done some damage to his lungs.
"It was touch and go for a while there, but he is such a fighter. We just hope he keeps fighting."
Ms Beech said she hoped she would be able to pick Jasper up on Tuesday afternoon.
And, he might already have a new owner, with one of the men involved in his rescue now considering adopting him.
"If we have found him a home by the end of all of this, that will be great," Ms Beech said.
Based out of two sites at Longford and the former RSPCA site at Mowbray, Just Cats took over regional cat management for the state's North in 2018.
Since its formation in 2016, it has helped re-home more than 8000 cats.
A not-for-profit organisation, it currently has 16 cats available for adoption and more than 150 in care.
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