Hispid Cotton Rat #24-2557

On July 2, a homeowner noticed a small ball of fluff in the corner of their dining room. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a medium-sized rodent of some sort, and that it appeared to have an eye injury. The animal was easily contained and brought to the Wildlife Center, where it was identified as a Hispid Cotton Rat, a rodent species native to the southern United States.

On examination, the Center's veterinary team found blood in both of the rat's nostrils and around its right eye. Luckily, the eye was intact with no injuries to the eye itself, and the rat's physical exam was otherwise normal. This patient was weighed (less than one-tenth of a pound!) and started on pain medications and antibiotics to help fight off potential infection. Vet staff monitored the rat for signs of infection or inflammation for about a week, after which it was determined to have fully recovered and was cleared for release! On July 11, after just over a week in care, this Hispid Cotton Rat was released near where it was found.

Based on the rat's injuries and because Hispid Cotton Rats very rarely seek out people's homes for shelter, it is suspected that it was caught by the rescuer's cat and brought inside. While a cat-caught animal's chances of survival are much greater when they are admitted to a rehabilitation facility, these patients still face a 70-80% mortality rate despite treatment efforts. This is due not only to the severity of injuries that many cat-caught patients experience, but also the aggressive bacteria in cats' mouths that are transmitted through small puncture wounds and lacerations.

Free-roaming outdoor cats kill billions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians every year and are the cause of many of our admissions at the Wildlife Center. If you own an outdoor cat, the best way that you can help your local wildlife is by keeping your cat indoors. For advice on how to transition your cat to an indoor lifestyle, you can read our article on the subject here. To learn more about the risks of outdoor cats (for wildlife as well as the cats themselves!), visit our Wildlife Issues page.