Thousands sign petition to prevent cat being 'evicted' from London ambulance station

More than 25,000 people have now signed a petition to keep a cat at the London ambulance station that's been his home for 16 years.

'Defib' was rescued by staff at the Walthamstow base as a kitten, but management are apparently now looking to relocate him.

An online petition reads: "For 16 years, Defib the cat has lived happily at Walthamstow ambulance station. A change of local management at London Ambulance Service means he is now under threat of eviction.

"Unlike so many cats in London, he was lucky enough to be rescued by staff as a kitten and has been adored by them ever since. The staff believe rehoming such an old cat is an unnecessary act of cruelty and not justifiable, especially in light of the recent popularity of therapy animals in business premises.

"We hope you will support the staff in asking LAS to allow him to live out his remaining years in the place he has known and where he is loved."

Local MP Stella Creasy has also added her backing, urging the health secretary to step in and prevent this 'no fault eviction'.

The London Ambulance Service says its for his own safety though - as he's had some near misses with ambulances in his old age.

A spokesperson said:

“We are looking for a worthy retirement home for Defib the cat. As he has got older his reactions have slowed and he has had several near misses in being run over by ambulances at the busy station. Additionally, we have ambulance staff with severe allergies, who cannot use the ambulance station during their breaks.

“We’re exploring some options so that he can go to a loving home that is more suitable for a cat his age than an operational ambulance station, and we are very much thinking of this as Defib’s own retirement plan from the LAS.”