The owner of a ‘miracle’ cat who survived being impaled on eight foot metal railings in Neasden has spoken of her relief that her moggy is alive.
Skittles, a four-year-old ginger and white cat, was found impaled on railings in Flower Close at 3.50am on March 9 by a neighbour who immediately called the RSPCA.
Unable to move him, the charity called the London Fire Brigade who arrived with specialist equipment and worked tirelessly to extricate the cat from his painful predicament, the poles miraculously missing all his vital organs.
Shanakei Forde had no idea her beloved Skittles was missing. The cat wasn’t microchipped and the charity had no idea who he belonged to.
It was only when a neighbour recognised the cat during an appeal for information at a residents’ meeting in Dollis Hill that the family were reunited.
The mother-of-two, who lives on the street her cat was rescued from, said: “I was so astonished, so shocked, when neighbours showed me the pictures of him. The first thing I said was ‘wow, God is good, he’s alive.’
“He’s the gentlest, kindest, most loving cat. I am so thankful, so grateful to everybody involved in saving him.
“Three holes went through him and he now has three large stitches. They’ve transferred him to another hospital so we’re hoping for the best.”
Ms Forde, who has a daughter Shannai, eight and son O’Shane, seven, said the family didn’t know their independent pet had gone missing and didn’t find out for a couple of days.
She said: “We are all so overwhelmed. We didn’t know he was missing in the first place, he’s a cat and likes to run about. Now I just want him home, he’s been through so much.
“I don’t want him to go outside, I don’t want him out of my sight.
“I’ll keep him inside our home for as long as I can, at least until he’s fully healed, recovered and stable.”
Ms Forde has launched a fundraising page to raise money for his vet fees as he’s not insured. The money will be donated to the hospitals where Skittles has received care with an added gift for the brave cat.
“I’m so grateful. The vets, the firefighters, the neighbours. I just want to hug everybody.”
To donate go to gofundme.com/britains-miracle-cat
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