Cat that helped owner recover from Leukaemia

A CAT has been shortlisted for an award after he helped his owner recover from Leukaemia.

The 12-year-old puss was selected as a finalist in recognition of how he helped owner Claire recover from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia after she was diagnosed in 2015.

Claire, from Longford, spent long periods of time in hospital, but Stubbsy never left her side.

Now, thanks to his admirable behaviour, he’s been shortlisted to win the ‘Purina Better Together,’ which he can then be in with a chance of becoming Cats Protection’s official ‘National Cat of the Year 2018.

Claire, 33, of Longford, said: “I spent long periods of time in hospital, especially during the first six months of treatment, and only came home for very short stays. Whenever I was at home, Stubbsy was a ray of sunshine and never left my side.

“When I was very ill, the doctors suggested I should get him rehomed as I was so vulnerable to infection, but I could never have done that.

“The compromise was that I couldn’t have him too close or cuddle him, which was heart-breaking, but Stubbsy seemed to understand and just sat at the end of my bed like a guard cat.

“He really spurred me on, and when I was able to cuddle him it was just the best feeling.”

Claire added that even before her illness, she shared a special bond with Stubbsy, who she had adopted in 2007 after he was handed into a vet having been involved in a road accident.

She said: “He had terrible injuries, lost his tail and needed pins in his legs but he was a little fighter. We nursed him through and a few years later he did exactly the same for me.”

Claire now faces a nail-biting wait until Thursday August 2 when winners will be announced at an award ceremony at London’s Savoy, an event attended by celebrities including Holby City actress Chizzy Akudolu, BBC broadcaster Andrew Collins and model Lucy Pinder.

Cat’s Protection’s National Cat Awards, organised by the UK’s largest cat charity and sponsored by PURINA(R), is an annual celebration of the real-life stories of heroism, loyalty and companionship in the feline world.

If Stubbsy wins his category, he will also be in with a chance of being crowned National Cat of the Year, following in the paw prints of previous winner Genie, a cat from Lincoln who helped schoolgirl Evie Henderson battle bone cancer.

Cats Protection’s awards organiser Kate Bunting said: “Stubbsy and Claire’s close bond has helped them both through incredibly difficult times, and their story of mutual companionship and devotion is truly heart-warming.”

Each category winner will receive a trophy, a £100 pet store voucher, a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine and a three-month supply of Purina(R) cat food.