Feline Rescued from Neglectful Conditions Finds Permanent Home for Christmas

A feline that had been left without care for nine days in an unsanitary apartment in Greater Manchester, suffering from starvation, has now been placed in a caring new residence. Officials from the RSPCA located the distressed animal, named Freya, confined within a flat filled with refuse in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Another cat, Minnie, was also present. Both felines had repeatedly tried to exit through the main door without success. Their plight was eventually noticed when an RSPCA inspector observed one of them vigorously pushing a paw through a space at the base of the door, leading to their subsequent rescue. Helen Howlett, Freya’s new guardian, stated that the cat has introduced “so much joy” into her existence. Ms. Howlett, residing in Warrington, Cheshire, with her partner Matt, described Freya as having a kind and warm disposition. She remarked: “Sometimes we wake up to her toys outside our room like she is asking us to play and sometimes she climbs under the duvet and sleeps between us. She is loving and hilarious and amazing company”. Minnie, Freya’s black and white companion, has also been placed in a new residence. The RSPCA reported that the two animals were discovered in perilous conditions. Following reports from concerned citizens, inspectors applied seals to the flat’s door after being unable to enter or determine if any cats were present. During a subsequent inspection on December 27, 2022, Inspector Rachel Whalley observed that the seals remained unbroken but noted a cat vigorously moving its paw through a crevice at the bottom of the door, seemingly trying to escape. Access to the apartment was subsequently achieved with assistance from Greater Manchester Police. Ms. Whalley reported finding litter trays covered, alongside empty food containers and accumulations of cat waste within the premises. She further stated: “The flat was strewn with clutter and there were hazards on the floor which would not be safe for cats to be around”. Both felines were determined to be underweight; Freya’s weight was recorded at 1.1kg, significantly below the average range of 3.6-4.5kgs. They were placed on a specific dietary regimen to restore their weight prior to their adoption. According to the RSPCA, an individual from Wigan subsequently received a 12-month community order, including 100 hours of community service, and was prohibited from owning any animals. This event follows the RSPCA’s report of a 23% rise in pets abandoned or left unattended during the previous Christmas period. For more content, tune into the best of BBC Radio Manchester via Sounds and connect with BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story suggestions can be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.