A cat who was found straying after his owner passed away has been found a loving new home by national pet charity Blue Cross.
The two-year-old ginger cat was found curled up on a doorstep in Fulham and was unable to stand on one of his paws.
His finder, who brought him into the charity’s hospital in Hammersmith, London, said they had asked neighbours if they knew the cat and it was thought he had belonged to a neighbour who had recently died.
The cat, who was called Charlie by the team at the hospital, was not microchipped and found to be covered in fleas and needed urgent treatment for his paw.
Amanda Rumball, London Welfare Officer at Blue Cross, said: “Poor Charlie was very shy and unsure when he arrived in our care but after some food and TLC he started to settle in.
“We treated the fleas and his leg and he also needed a broken tooth removed. He seemed so very sad when he arrived in our care but once in a foster home his personality really started to shine through.
“He grew in confidence and after his treatment finished we were able to find him a loving new forever home.”
The charity also recently found a new home for 11 year old cat called Beans who was signed over to the charity by his owner who was terminally ill.
Amanda added: “Sadly many pets come into Blue Cross because their owners are moving into care or hospital and cannot take their companion with them, or they have become too sick to look after their pet or sadly have passed away and left the pet behind.
“For those with no family or friends who can take on their pet it can be extremely worrying to think about what will happen to their beloved pet in the future.
“To reassure owners that their pets will be cared for should anything happen in the future, they can apply to register their pets onto our Pet Peace of Mind service. This is a free service where owners can be reassured that their pets will be taken in by Blue Cross’s rehoming team and found a loving new home just like Charlie and Beans.”
Widow Ann Bickley, 90, has signed Mollie up to the service so she knows her cat will be well looked after if she outlives her.
Ann said: “Once you get to my age you think about these things. And I’d be devastated if anything happened to her. Mollie is always on the bottom step when I go out to welcome me home.”
To find out more about Blue Cross and the Pet Peace of Mind service visit: www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-peace-of-mind
