Help! Cat that has made a J lying on the ground.

[dancetta]

I found him wedged between a paper towel and the side of my net butterfly cage. When I tried to move him, his "tail" was stuck to the side of the cage. What can I do to help him? How will he shed his skin? Does this mean he can't pulpate? I cannot turn the cage because I have three other chrysalis hanging from the top.

[Jim]

This monarch may be able to pupate in this position but the odds of it being somehow deformed are very likely. Your best bet would probably be to move it (if it hasn't already begun to pupate) into a position where it is allowed to hand upside down freely. To do this you can either cut some of the netting around the attachment point or use something to carefully remove the monarch's silk pad from the netting - then secure this to the top of the cage or otherwise suspend it 5-6" off the floor of the cage.

Hope this helps - good luck!