19 Year Old Cat Left Alone with Owner's Body

Last night, the CatCuddles team received a distressing phone call from Lewisham Police Station.

A 19-year-old cat was in urgent need of refuge after being found in a flat alongside her deceased owner, who is believed to have passed away several days earlier. Finding herself suddenly alone and without food in the flat, it's unimaginable what the cat, named Kitkat, must have endured.

Despite the demands kitten season is currently placing on our space availability, and the extra work wrought by the pandemic and launch of our new cat clinic, the team knew we could not turn this cat away. An emergency foster carer was quickly sought and secured and Kitkat was brought to safety the same night.

Frail and extremely hungry, Kitkat seemed both bewildered and relieved in foster care, and is also gentle and friendly. Her name and age were revealed by microchip records, and she is missing a tail seemingly from an accident or injury earlier in life. Due to her advanced age, she will be given a thorough health check at our North London vet clinic, and should no further relevant information about her background come to light, will be adopted or placed into long-term foster care. There she will spend what remains of her days comfortable and happy.

We will extend all the kindness and care possible to her, not only because this is what every cat deserves, but because it's what every loving cat owner deserves, too; for our cats to be provided with love, comfort, and security, should the day arise when we can no longer provide these things ourselves.