Police launch investigation after pet cat dies in illegal snare trap in East Lothian
Officers attending the scene discovered several other snares
A police investigation has been launched after a “much-loved” pet cat died after being caught in an illegal snare trap in East Lothian.
The animal was found entangled in the device on a footpath entering Whitecraig from Wallyford, near Musselburgh, on the evening of Sunday 12 July.
Officers attending the scene discovered several other snares, including one which had trapped a rabbit.
The devices have been seized by police for further enquiry.
Snares were outlawed in Scotland in 2024.
Constable Whitby, Wildlife Crime Coordinator for the Lothians and Scottish Borders, said: “Snares have been illegal in Scotland since 2024, and they were banned for this very reason.
“A much-loved family pet has sadly died due to someone operating these illegal devices.
“If anyone has any information in relation to this incident or saw anyone acting suspicious in the Whitecraig area in the last week, please contact officers.”
Police Scotland is urging anyone with information to call 101, quoting incident number 3158 of 12 July 2026, or to get in touch with any concerns regarding wildlife crime in the area.
The fatal incident in East Lothian comes just days after a similar case in Aberdeenshire left another cat with severe injuries.
Police say that separate incident is believed to have happened in the Ythanwells area, near Huntly, last Friday.
Officers said the cat was discovered with injuries entirely consistent with having been caught in a snare trap.
Appealing for information regarding the Aberdeenshire case, Police Scotland noted that snares became illegal "partly due to the unnecessary suffering they cause not only to wildlife, but to domestic pets".