Rescue cat threatened for eviction after 16 years, 15,000 people sign petition to let her stay

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition against the eviction of a rescue cat from an east London ambulance station, where he has lived for 16 years. Defib, the cat that was taken in by the Walthamstow NHS base as a kitten, is being forced to leave his longtime home. According to the London Ambulance Service (LAS), which recently underwent a staff restructure, the decision to remove Defib was based on safety and age factors.



Thousands, however, have joined the campaign to preserve the cat where it belongs, with MP Stella Creasy emailing Health Secretary Wes Streeting to advocate for him.

“Defib the cat facing a no-fault eviction from Walthamstow’s ambulance base - hard to see why given he’s lived there for 16 years happily and helps staff cope with a stressful job,” the politician said.


The petition challenging Defib’s eviction says: “For 16 years, Defib the cat has lived happily at Walthamstow ambulance station. A change of local management at London Ambulance Service means he is now under threat of eviction.”


According to The Standard, the London Ambulance Service-run station is looking for a retirement home for Defib. "We're exploring some options so that he can go to a loving home that is more suitable for a cat his age than an operational ambulance station, and we are very much thinking of this as Defib's retirement plan from the LAS."

The elderly cat has slowed with age, resulting in numerous close calls with ambulances, according to the spokeswoman. They also stated that the staff is unable to enter the station owing to allergies.

Also read: After getting lost in the woods for 2 months, Siamese cat travels 1200 miles to return home

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