A cat seriously injured after being caught in a gin trap is being monitored and cared for by a Christchurch veterinary clinic.

A North New Brighton resident found the cat with the trap on its leg in the early hours of the morning.

She rushed it to the after hour afters vet in Addington.

A spokeswoman for the after hours clinic confirmed the cat was in their care and was resting and comfortable.

The sale and use of leg-hold traps and glueboard traps for trapping animals is restricted in New Zealand under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

An SPCA spokeswoman, who has seen the photos, told Chris Lynch no leg-hold traps may be used within 150 metres of a dwelling without the permission of the occupier, or in any area where there is a probability or risk of catching a pet animal.

She said SPCA opposes the use of all leg hold traps due to the negative impacts to animal welfare they cause and the indiscriminate nature of the way in which they catch animals.

The spokewoman said traps set in an urban area where there is risk of catching pet animals, contravenes MPI’s Leg-hold Trap Restrictions.

“Cats that are caught in leg-hold traps will likely suffer considerable pain and distress.”