Terminally ill feline Kitkat looking for final home

An RSPCA animal centre in the West Midlands is urgently looking for a foster home for a cat with skin cancer to live out her remaining days.

Kitkat, who turned nine on 15 June, has been at the charity's Hillfield Animal Home in Stretton, Burton upon Trent, for nearly four months.

She was brought in by an RSPCA inspector when her previous owner was no longer able to care for her. The friendly black and white feline, who loves attention, is thought to have spent most of her life living outside and had been exposed to the sun for long periods. As a result, cancerous growths had developed on the tops of both her ears, which had to be treated and removed when she came into RSPCA care.

Sadly, in recent weeks, she's also developed a bald patch on her back, which a vet says is likely to be consistent with the cancer having spread. Despite her diagnosis and ongoing treatment, Kitkat is described as a happy and affectionate cat, whose condition is currently not affecting her quality of life, and staff at Hillfield are determined to do everything they can to find her a loving foster home for the remainder of her life.

Administrator Cyan Hulland said: "Despite her treatment and everything she's been through, Kitkat has got a big personality and loves fuss and attention. She'll happily sit on or next to you while you stroke her but will walk away when she wants to be left alone.

"We're applying sunscreen to her skin daily, particularly in this current hot spell, and we'd urge other pet owners to take similar precautions to avoid their pets becoming sunburnt."

Staff say that Kitkat would be fine in a family environment as she is good around young children and any ongoing treatment relating to her current condition will also be fully funded by the animal home.