Cat was trapped in dead man's home for a month

An animal rescue charity has said finding a cat trapped in the home of a man who had died was "one of the most heartbreaking situations" it has had to deal with.

Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands said it was alerted by a friend of the man in Shrewsbury, who had died a couple of weeks before he was discovered, a fortnight ago.

But "Nibbles" had been left behind and was unable to get out of the "fly-ridden" property.

The group said it rescued the cat and that "somehow, against all the odds", it had survived for about a month, but it worried that other cats may be at similar risk.

The charity said it had received a call from a friend of the man. The friend knew he had a cat and had learned of the man's death a few days earlier.

She said she had contacted West Mercia Police and the RSPCA, then turned to the Stray Cat Rescue Team after no action was taken.

The charity said it decided to enter the property to rescue Nibbles but feared she had died while trapped inside.

The rescuers were relieved that she had managed to keep herself alive by getting inside a large bag of cat food and drinking water from the toilet.

A spokesperson said the police officers had not spotted Nibbles when they entered the property, despite concerns being raised. It added that it had made a complaint to West Mercia Police.

The presence of items such as cat trees, litter trays, cat toys and cat food should have made it "glaringly obvious" there was a cat present, they added.

The force was asked for a response.

West Mercia Police said: "As a complaint has been received in relation to this incident, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.

"We will be able to provide an update once the complaint process has been completed."

The RSPCA was also asked for a response.

The charity said the most heartbreaking part of the story was "it was so obvious how much her owner had loved her".

It said the property contained toys, cat trees and "everything a much-loved cat could wish for".

Nibbles is now being cared for by Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands.

But while her story has a happy ending, the charity asked: "How many other animals are left behind when their owners die alone?"

It urged pet owners to make a plan for them in case the worst happens. It also asked people who know someone living alone with pets to inform others that the animals exist.

"Nibbles was incredibly lucky," it said, but "so many others may never be found."

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