Blob the Bobcat Finds Forever Home

Blob the Bobcat, once destined for euthanasia after being rescued from one of the UK’s most notorious exotic animal facilities, has officially found a permanent home at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent. His arrival, just in time for the Sanctuary’s annual Open Days, marks the final and most emotional chapter in a nationwide rescue mission to save 23 exotic cats from the shut-down Cat Survival Trust, following the conviction of its owner, Terrance Hall, on serious animal welfare offences.

Blob’s journey to safety is a powerful testament to collaboration in rescue and conservation, overcoming significant challenges, particularly those posed by the UK’s Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) legislation.

Earlier this year, Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary stepped in to prevent the unthinkable: that any unplaced cats might be euthanised. While 22 of the 23 rescued cats soon found new homes across the UK, Blob remained the last cat without a confirmed future. Living in severely inadequate conditions, like many of the animals rescued from the failed facility, Blob faced a grim outlook. With The Big Cat Sanctuary already at capacity after taking in three others (Frank, Boson, and Rhys), no facility had the space or licensing to take him.

“It was the final day, and Blob’s life literally hung in the balance,” recalls Cam Whitnall, wildlife expert, conservationist, and Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary. “I reached out to Lindsay at Wildside Exotic Rescue, who had already taken several pumas from the Cat Survival Trust. She agreed to take Blob temporarily. That day, I made a promise: I’d find Blob a permanent home in the UK.”

Seven months on, and thanks to vital operational changes and determined planning, Cam and The Big Cat Sanctuary have fulfilled their promise. Today, Blob is exploring his new habitat, a space designed not just for safety, but for enrichment, specialist care, and a fresh start, far removed from the “appalling and unsafe” conditions previously described by authorities.

Blob now joins the ranks of fellow rescued cats from the Cat Survival Trust, including Frank, the UK’s only Asian Golden Cat, Boson, a Fishing Cat, and Rhys, a Eurasian Lynx, all thriving in their new home at The Big Cat Sanctuary. The successful rehoming of all 23 cats highlights the vital importance of collaboration between BIAZA zoos, sanctuaries, and rescue groups in safeguarding exotic animals during times of crisis.

Blob’s journey is a reminder of what’s possible when compassion, commitment, and collaboration unite. Visitors can meet Blob for the first time during The Big Cat Sanctuary’s annual Open Days, taking place 24th–27th July and again from 31st July–3rd August.