PRESS RELEASE

Date: Monday 9^thMay 2022

Missing cat reunited with homeless owner - now both are seeking their forever home

A two-year-old black cat called Molly, from Brent, North West London who went missing on 1^stApril 2022 after having scarpered out of his home on the exact same day owner, Colin Ortutai-Hughes, had been instructed to leave the property by his letting agent, is now safely back and reunited with her owner.

 Molly, a domestic shorthair two-year-old black cat, was missing for five days before being spotted by her owner's landlord just as a removal van was preparing to depart to put owner Colin's household goods into storage.

Owner and local Brent resident, 45-year-old divorced father-of-four, Colin, says that despite having searched extensively for Molly, he had started to fear the worst. As he explains, "I was so terrified she would run to the busy nearby road and get hit by a car. I was already having to deal with the shock of being told to move out of my home and watch the front door lock being changed in front of me, so losing Molly was the final straw."

He adds, "It was also really cold, and Molly is very much an indoor cat. As she had four-month-old kittens, I was very worried about her health and physical condition, and I knew it was important to have her neutered."

Fur matted and covered in ‘oily substance'

Whilst delighted at her return, cat lover Colin was also very concerned by Molly's appearance: her fur was covered in an unknown and odourless, oily substance. Colin immediately drove her to the nearbyMayhewwhere she was cleaned and examined and found to be in good health overall, having no suffered no long-term damage from the oily substance.

Following her examination, Molly was returned to Colin with provisions, including blankets and wet and dry food for her continued recovery.

However, as Colin was anxious about Molly's kittens being in contact with the unconfirmed oily substance which had covered her fur, Mayhew offered to take in the kittens so steps could be explored to find them forever homes.  

As a Mayhew Welfare Officer explains, "Molly is a happy cat with a lovely disposition and temperament that so far hadn't been traumatised by her experience. Whilst we may never know how she came into contact with the substance, the priority was to ensure she continued to make a full recovery and could return to her owner and the kitten's father, Max."

Molly, who has also since been neutered by the veterinary team at Mayhew, is back living with Colin who is currently staying with friends whilst awaiting updates on available pet-friendly accommodation.

Clickhereto read about Mayhew rescue cats and dogs looking to find their forever home.

ENDS

For more information please contact Esther Porta, PR and Media Officer, on 07870 439158 or emailesther@mayhewanimalhome.org

Notes to Editors

Mayhew

Established in 1886, Mayhew is one of the most effective animal welfare charities in London. We help thousands of animals in need gain a better quality of life by delivering a broad range of community-based veterinary, social and education services in the UK and overseas.

Our team of Animal Welfare Officers work extensively with vulnerable pet owners across society, including the elderly, disabled, homeless and those facing a personal crisis, whether housing or health related. They offer a range of services including temporary foster care, a free pick up and return neutering service, free or low-cost preventative veterinary care and extensive animal behaviour and welfare advice.

We also work closely with local authorities to address pet ownership issues, and collaborate with government and non-government agencies to address the challenges of misuse and mistreatment of companion animals.

Our animal therapy programme, TheraPaws, has 60 teams of humans and dogs who visit care homes, hospitals and hospices in 14 London boroughs promoting the human and animal bond and bringing well-being and joy to residents and patients. In 2021 alone, the team at Mayhew:-

• Rehomed 55 dogs and 270 cats
• Reunited 95 missing or lost pets with their owners
• Treated 1,979 animals brought to our vaccination clinics
• Neutered 1,099 animals across our UK outpatient and welfare work
• Carried out 6,699 animal interventions in our clinic

To find out more about Mayhew's work, visitwww.themayhew.org

For adoption, clinic and general enquiries, call: 020 8962 8000. To donate, call: 020 8206 5870.