Whiskery Whiskey

ELY charity Sue Ryder Care has evicted one of its long-term residents - because he's a health and safety risk.

Rescue cat, Whiskey was sent packing after nine years of loyal service for fear that he would trip up residents and staff.

Care staff and patients were not prepared to let Whiskey go without a fight, however, and they lodged their objections in a petition to management.

Whiskey had delighted residents, sleeping on their beds or snoozing on the lounge chairs and had become a part of life at The Old Palace.

But when he started napping on the stairs and in dark corners and became slightly incontinent, manager Rachael Watts decided he had to go.

Several 'near miss' tripping accidents meant that Whiskey had become a health and safety hazard.

The home cares for people with limited mobility and Rachael feared that staff moving residents and equipment with Whiskey under their feet could be potentially dangerous.

She said: "Whiskey was getting on a little bit and became slightly incontinent which is not appropriate in this environment.

"We had several near misses on the stairs because he had taken to sleeping on the stairs and landing or in dark corners. It was a health and safety risk and that was the final straw.

"We were aware that the residents and staff were very fond of him."

Rachael posted a notice in reception asking for a member of staff to give the cat a new retirement home.

Without hesitation, father-of-two and fund-raiser, Chris Piggott, offered Whiskey the chance to join his menagerie of animals and two young daughters, Alice, nine, and Emma, seven, pictured, at his Little Thetford home.

Now Whiskey will spend the remainder of his nine lives enjoying his retirement with the family and their three other cats, a dog, two guinea pigs, rabbit and two chickens.

Chris said: "Whiskey has settled in really nicely.

"We couldn't have wished for anything better.