A SHOCKED pet owner has warned of the dangers of wood-burning stoves after her cat badly burnt her paws.

Four-year-old Lola, pictured, suffered agonising burns when she jumped onto a red-hot stove and had to be rushed to Vets Now in Winchester for emergency treatment.

Her owner Julie Tranham, of Collis Terrace, Ludgershall, is worried other cats could be at risk due to the increasing popularity of wood burners in British homes.

Julie was relaxing in her living room when Lola rushed in and unexpectedly jumped onto the stove.

She said: “It all happened so quickly. She came running through and jumped straight up. It was over in a split second, but it’s surprising just how much damage can be done in that short time because Lola burnt all her paws.

“We’ve had the burner for quite a few years, but this was the first time that Lola had jumped on it — normally she notices when it’s on.

“Lola shot straight off and hid under the bed, and I went running after her because I knew the stove was so hot and she was bound to have hurt herself.”

Julie tried to reduce the severity of the burns by holding a cool flannel to her paws but she could see how much Lola was suffering.

Julie called Vets Now in Winchester, which provides emergency care for pets in the area.

Staff at the clinic placed Lola in a sling to help keep her paws in cool water and then prescribed antibiotics and painkillers.

Julie added: “Lola had bandaging on for about 24 hours, although eventually she shook her paws really fast to flick them off. She won’t go near the burner again, but I have a candle on the top now to make sure there’s no chance of her jumping up.”

Vet nurse Amy Kneller, who works at Vets Now in Winchester, said: “Lola is a beautiful cat and she must have got the fright of her life when she jumped on to the wood burner.

“Her pads were badly blistered, so we bathed them, gave her painkillers, and then dressed them in an antibiotic cream. They were then placed in bandages. Thankfully, she was a great patient.

“Mrs Tranham is right to highlight the risks of having wood-burning stoves in the home, particularly at winter time when they are likely to be on more often.”

Vets Now in Winchester is one of 58 Vets Now clinics and pet emergency hospitals across the UK that are open through the night, seven-days-a-week, and day and night on weekends and bank holidays, to treat any pet emergencies that may occur.

All of Vets Now’s premises have a vet and vet nurse on site at all times.