‘Facebook Famous’ cat drags himself home five days after being mauled by dog

A ‘Facebook famous’ cat who went missing for five days after a vicious dog attack has dragged himself home and is now on the road to recovery. 

Lilian Kelley and her grandchildren, Emma, 13, and AJ, 12, feared that their beloved pet Felix had died after he went missing from his home in West Denton, Newcastle, on May 2.

And when a neighbour messaged to say that he had been mauled by a dog the family were left devastated, with Lilian describing it as ‘the worst time of my life, like losing my baby or my kids.’

But on May 6 their heartbreak turned to hope after Felix turned up at the front door after ‘dragging’ himself home five days after the attack. It is believed he had been hiding in a bush and had struggled to move as a result of his injuries.

Lilian said: ‘When I went to see the lady who saw it she was crying. She said it was awful and that Felix tried to get away. She said he tried to jump back and get up a fence but the dog grabbed him again and started ragging him all over.

‘He only had to walk a few steps to get home but she said he went to the side of the houses towards the gardens and I think that’s where he’s been hiding in some bushes until he could make his way home.’

The 51-year-old added: ‘I lay on the floor crying [when he returned home] I just wanted to cuddle him. I really thought he was dead but I never wanted to give up. I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t sleep while he was missing – I just wanted him home.

‘The first two nights that he came home, me and my husband slept on the settee because I didn’t want to leave him.’

Felix was immediately rushed to the PDSA in Gateshead where it was discovered he had sustained broken ribs in the attack, as well as a dislocation, fluid on his lungs, and lacerations to his behind and the front of his body. 

Lilian said that the vet later called her and asked her to think about putting him to sleep. But she refused as she believed he would be able to make a recovery.

‘He’s my baby’, said Lilian. ‘When I thought they were going to put him to sleep I ran out of the house crying to see my mam.’

The family refused to allow Felix to be put to sleep and the four-year-old cat began treatment for his injuries at a veterinary surgery in Northumberland. Lilian said the family are expecting to pay over £3,300 in vets fees but little fighter Felix is recovering well at home.

‘He’s savagely bitten and covered in scabs but he’s doing absolutely amazing. I don’t know how he survived’, said Lilian.

She added: ‘I opened my savings tins that I had for Christmas but I didn’t care because he’s my baby and he’s fought to come home, I wasn’t going to allow him to die. I was going to get the money together to pay for his treatment, even if it meant that I had to scrimp and scrape to get it.’

Felix became a much-loved part of the family when he was just four-weeks old after his mum gave birth in a box outside a family member’s house. 

After trying to resist her grandson’s wishes to adopt the tiny kitten, Lilian finally caved and quickly fell in love with the black and white cat, who they originally named Rosie before realising he was a boy.

Through missing cat appeals on Facebook, Felix quickly acquired a following of people keen to see him return home safely. Lilian would receive messages asking for updates on four-year-old Felix and a dedicated page was set up providing updates on his journey.

After hearing what had happened, well wishers asked the family to set up a GoFundMe page to contribute towards the cost, as well as a catio for Felix, who is no longer allowed to roam outdoors. Any remaining funds will be donated to the PDSA as a thank you for their efforts in treating Felix.

Lilian said: ‘He’s loved by so many people who didn’t even know him. He’s Facebook famous, I keep getting messages asking for updates on how he was doing. One woman asked if she could FaceTime and I’ve got children knocking on the door asking how he is, wanting to see that he’s alright.’

Lilian is now looking to get pet insurance for him. Although he is no longer allowed to leave the house she is also planning to buy a tracker for him to follow his movements in case he manages to get out of the house.

She has thanked the vets who helped to treat him and the community who have shown love and support towards Felix and his recovery.

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