Property owner rescues tiny bobcat kitten he found stuck in a barbed wire fence, brings her to a hospital where they save her life and give her a second chance: 'It’s time for her to go back to where she belongs; wild and free.'

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Feb 11, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Rescuing a wild cat in trouble might be scary, and it might not be easy, but it is always, always worth it.

Any injured or sick animal is at risk in the wild. Easy pickings for other, healthier and stronger animals. Even the fiercest lion, when injured, is easy prey. So, if you see a wild cat that needs help, doing something about it is the only right thing to do. Of course, you can never know what that animal's fate would be. Sometimes, these rescued wild cats go to sanctuaries. Other times, these wild cats find joy with new friends. Sometimes, these rescued wild cats help other rescued cats, giving them a completely new purpose in life.

But the best case scenario, the one that we always hope for, is that the rescued wild cat will be strong enough, healthy enough, and still weary of humans enough to be released back into the wild. That's the dream. That's what we aim for. And although it does not happen all time, when it does, we are thankful. And to the man who rescued this tiny bobcat, who was stuck in a fence, we really are eternally thankful. Because what could have ended in tragedy didn't. This bobcat was given a new chance at life.

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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
It was a completely normal day in Oakley when this property owner came across an itty bitty bobcat kitten stuck in a barbed wire fence. She was growling, hissing, snarling, weary of the human, but unable to get herself out of the bind she found herself in. According to Lindsay Wildlife Experience, the rescuer called his sister and his staff to help him get the feisty kitten out of the fence and into a pet carrier, because even small as she was, she was still fierce. He then brought her to the Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital.
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
If he hadn't gotten her out on time, her fate would have been much different. In the hospital, the hospital team was able to treat a puncture wound on her neck and save her life. For the long-term rehabilitation of the wild kitten, a lot of effort had to be made, and Lindsay’s Director of Veterinary Services Doctor Guthrum Purdin partnered with Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, who had the expertise necessary to take care of the kitten properly.
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
“It’s been a long journey for this little bobcat, but she has recovered from her injuries and has proven able to catch and cache prey,” Purdin explained. “It’s time for her to go back to where she belongs; wild and free.” And so, the process of releasing the kitten back into the wild was set into motion.
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
The bobcat was barely three pounds when she was brought in, but she plumped up to a whole six pounds after being cared for. The new home she was released into was a large habitat, appropriate for bobcats, with good sources of food and plent of covered places to rest. And on March 5th, the nine-month old feline was released just outside of Brentwood, near the place where she was found.
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Lindsay Wildlife Experience
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via Cathy Leach
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via Kendall Paul Oei
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via Barbara Gee
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via Bo Dash
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via Kathy Coyle
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via Larkin Walken