Pet living in safe house for women named National Cat of the Year
Marley beat thousands of entries to win the award.
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Your support makes all the difference.A seven-year-old London cat with a āgift of empathyā who lives at a safe house for women who have been enslaved, exploited and trafficked has won a national award.
Black and white Marley beat thousands of other entries to be named Cats Protectionās National Cat of the Year 2024 in recognition of the way he helps people at Caritas Bakhita House in London by offering them comfort.
Head of Caritas Bakhita House Karen Anstiss, 59, said: āIām so proud Marley has won National Cat of the Year ā heās a wonderful example of the power of love.
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āOften Marley placing a paw on our guestsā legs is the first kindness theyāve experienced in years. He has this incredible gift of empathy and has assisted many, many women along the road to recovery.ā
Caritas Bakhita House ā currently home to 11 women from 11 countries ā adopted Marley four years ago, after he stayed in a rescue shelter and was taken in by a family whose other cat bullied him.
āBefore he went into rescue, I think he had a hard time. So, he recognises our guestsā trauma because he has suffered too,ā Ms Anstiss said.
āInitially he sits really close, to see how the women respond. Then he gently puts a paw on their leg letting them know theyāre not alone.
Marley really is the fluffy heart of our home
āWe had one guest who was so traumatised she didnāt speak to us ā only to Marley ā and because she trusted him, over time we were able to reach her.ā
Ms Anstiss said Marley is also staff supervisor, a security guard patrolling the grounds, and chief gardener.
She said that ānobody is allowed to touch his patch of daisiesā.
He often joins the staff and guests at dinner, and one guest even composed a song for him.
āMarley really is the fluffy heart of our home,ā Ms Anstiss said.
To reach the final four cats in the National Cat Awards, Marley first won the incredible cats category, which celebrates cats whose bond with their humans inspires extraordinary acts of love, in a public vote.
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He was then selected as overall National Cat of the Year by a panel of celebrity judges, winning a trophy and prize package which included a Ā£200 pet store voucher.
He follows in the pawprints of last yearās winner Zebby, who won National Cat of the Year 2023 in recognition of how he supports his deaf owner Genevieve Moss by alerting her to sounds around the home.
The nationās biggest celebration of cats was held at Londonās One Marylebone on September 18 and hosted by novelist, presenter and self-confessed cat lady Dawn OāPorter.
Other category winners this year included Zara, the winner of the family cat category, who offered pastoral care to the congregation at St John the Evangelist in Bexley, comforting mourners and starring in wedding photographs.
Cilla was the winner of the connected category, as a school cat at Outwoods Primary School in Atherstone, Warwickshire, who calms pupils before their SATs and sparked donations of Ā£5,000 worth of books from social media followers around the world, restocking the school library.
The winner of the senior cats category was 21-year-old Miss Dave Mittens, who has shared a lifetime of love with her owners.