Cancer-stricken Blackpool grandma's dying wish for dozens of pet cats to find new homes

A cancer-stricken Blackpool woman given just a few months to live says her dying wish is for her dozens of cats to find new loving homes.
One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in CareOne of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care
One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care

Jill Murray, 63, of North Shore, was diagnosed with cancer of the kidneys in January, and was given the devastating news that the disease had already spread to her heart and lungs.

She now hopes to see all 26 of her pet cats settled down into new homes before her death.

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"I want to get them into really nice homes. I want them all settled before I go. I'd like them to be in a nice place with a good family.

One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in CareOne of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care
One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care

"Every time one goes, it's heartbreaking. Every time I burst into tears. But I know it's for the best."

Jill, a grandmother-of-four and retired shop manager, was initially believed to be suffered from severe anemia when she complained about her symptoms to her doctor. But a subsequent scan at Blackpool Victoria Hospital revealed something much worse.

She said: "In January I went to see the doctor because I just couldn't do anything. I could barely move. The first thing she said was go to the hospital.

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"They decided to give me a scan and found a blood clot on my lung, and they gave me some blood-thinning injections to get rid of the clot. Then they checked my scan again and found I had a mass on my kidney.

Some of the cats in need of new homes are newborns. Picture by Cats in CareSome of the cats in need of new homes are newborns. Picture by Cats in Care
Some of the cats in need of new homes are newborns. Picture by Cats in Care

"I thought, I've got two kidneys, I'll be fine without one. But it didn't work out like that. It had already spread to my heart and lungs. I have got about six months left if the treatment doesn't work. Even if it does, I've only got one to two years."

In desperation, Jill called a local charity, Blackpool Cats in Care, who agreed to find new homes for her pets.

Since then, some of the cats in Jill's care have had kittens - raising the number of felines in need of families to 48.

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Janet Moores, of Cats in Care, said: "We're running around like headless chickens trying to rehome all these cats and kittencals. We were definitely not expecting this many.

One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in CareOne of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care
One of the cats in need of a new home. Picture by Cats in Care

"Most of these cats are not neutered and they have just been breeding. We went to see them about 10 days ago and since then we have made huge pleas for foster owners, and we have been going there and taking them out a few at a time.

"It is costing us a lot of money because we have to get them all neutered and microchipped as well."

Nicky Hoyle, also of Cats in Care, said: “Because Jill is so poorly, she hasn’t been able to get to the vets, and some of the cats do need treatment. Some of them have eye infections and they all need to be neutered and spayed.

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“It’s just finding homes for all of them. Nobody wants older cats or cats that are nervous. Some of the cats are very friendly, but there are ones that are quite shy who need patient homes with no young children. They’re wonderful cats, but all they’ve ever known is Jill."

Jill, who has been looking after cats for nearly 45 years, said: "Ever since I rang Cats in Care, they have been absolutely brilliant. They came the very same day I rang. They have taken me through step by step and kept me up-to-date with where all the cats are going. They won't just rehome them anywhere. They've got to go to the right homes.

"I started taking in one or two cats from people who left them behind when they moved away and I didn't have the money to get them spayed, so they had kittens and I kept the kittens. It has been like a roller coaster.

"I'm going to keep four of the cats - Jake, Toby, Billy and Andy - because they are the ones who are the most laid-back and the least trouble and I will have more time to rest and go to the doctors."

CAN YOU HELP?

If you want to rehome one of Jill's many cats, call Blackpool Cats in Care on 07708 972217.

To support the charity, visit their website at www.freewebs.com/blackpoolcatsincare/

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