13th March 2025
A tiny homeless kitten took fate into her own paws when she approached a member of her new family on a cliff-top walk and encouraged him to take care of her.
Little Bramble was no more than 10-12 weeks old and battling potentially fatal cat flu when she managed to run over to Billy Kelland, 21, and his three friends as they took a hike along the coastal path in Porthcurno during their weekend break from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (RNAS), near Helston, where Billy is a Royal Navy Air Engineer.
The dark tortoiseshell kitten was crying out as she ran towards them, evidently hungry and in need of attention, comfort and help.
Bramble took a particular liking to Billy and kept climbing up his legs while walking along with the group. When it became clear she did not want to leave them, Billy let Bramble climb into his rucksack and he carried her with the rucksack open on his chest as they hiked the six miles back along the coastal path to Sennen Cove where they had started their walk.
Aware adopting Bramble wouldn’t be compatible with life at the airbase, Billy called his animal-loving mum Katie Spencer, 51, who in turn called Cats Protection Cornwall Cat Centre in Carnon Downs for advice.
The team at the centre advised that Billy should take Bramble straight in and he immediately set off with just a brief pause at RNAS Culdrose for tuna to calm the ravenous young cat.
When they arrived, Bramble was grubby from being outside, and there was evidence she’d had fleas, which can cause anaemia in kittens. Most worryingly, Bramble was sneezing, had watery red eyes, was struggling to breathe and her meow was raspy, all signs of highly infectious cat flu.
Rehoming and Welfare Assistant at the centre, Gemma Reid, says: “We cannot know how Bramble ended up fending for herself, but with a 71% increase in cat abandonments over the past three years at our centres nationwide, there is a strong chance that Bramble or her mother had been left alone on the cliff.
“Thankfully Bramble was a determined little kitten and she found Billy whose kindness and quick thinking saved her. It’s likely she would have died a painful death if she’d remained out in the elements with her cat flu untreated. It’s never acceptable to abandon a pet and we would urge anyone who is struggling to contact us, other welfare organisations or a local vet for help.”
After a month of treatment for cat flu, and a search to ensure she was not already owned, Bramble was neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and was ready to go home.
Katie did some soul-searching but knew ultimately, she had to adopt Bramble. She says: “We lost our wonderful cat Freddie last year and my husband and I were heartbroken when he passed. I always knew I’d want another cat, but I didn’t think I was ready yet. Then along came Bramble - how could we possibly say no, especially when she chose Billy?”
Billy and his girlfriend went to collect the intrepid kitten from the centre and they spent a full day together at the family home while Bramble settled in.
Katie says: “Billy visits Bramble often and I think she does know he's her special friend. She likes watching football with him and chasing the players on his iPad!
“I was concerned about our dog, Cookie, who is getting old. I wasn’t sure he would keep up with a young kitten. But as it turns out Bramble has given him a new spark; he was grieving for Freddie but now he’s got a fresh enthusiasm for life!
“Bramble is an absolute sweetheart and loving life. Our front room currently looks like a kitten play gym, but when bedtime comes, I carry her up to her room, tuck her in, and we don’t hear a peep until morning. She’s tidy and clean, eats her breakfast and supper right next to Cookie, and has her own little stash of kibble upstairs! Most of all, she’s a cuddle bug. She loves nothing more than snuggling right into our necks and gives the gentlest, most heart-melting cuddles and purrs. She truly is a special and happy little lady, and we love her.”
The team at the centre were delighted that Bramble’s story had such a happy ending.
Rehoming and Welfare Assistant Gemma adds: “We’re thrilled that Bramble has found such a loving home after her extremely tough start in life. She really captured the hearts of everyone here at the centre and our fabulous supporters on social media who helped us raise £500 to cover Bramble’s vet bills and medical care while she was with us. We’d like to thank everyone so very much for their kindness, and Katie and Billy for taking her into their hearts.”
To see the video of Bramble’s journey from rescue to adoption visit: www.facebook.com/catsprotection/videos/1183895759748331
For further information about Cats Protection Cornwall Cat Centre as well as current cats needing homes visit www.cats.org.uk/cornwall
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Pictures and video of Bramble can be downloaded here:
For further information or an interview, please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on 01825 741 911, at media.office@cats.org.uk, or @CPMediaTeam on Twitter.