THE mysterious French moggie found abandoned in Weymouth is now classed as an ‘illegal immigrant’ and has been placed in quarantine.

The cat has puzzled animal rescue workers since it was handed into Moorcroft Veterinary Surgery last week after it was found wandering around the Park District in Weymouth. No ownership details could be traced other than the fact that the stray ginger tomcat was micro-chipped in Nice, France, in 2002.

It is believed the cat may have been abandoned by a foreign couple in December after reports of a cat being left in a guestroom at the Railway Tavern when a couple checked out and flew to Romania.

Now the cat rescue charity – Weymouth Paws – is desperately trying to raise the £1,300 to pay for the quarantine bills to ensure that the cat, aged between seven to 10 years, gets to stay in quarantine for six months and then re-homed.

Veterinary nurse Michelle Pavey said: “The cat has been classed as an illegal immigrant and has had to go into quarantine.

“There will be huge bills because he will have to be tested for rabies and have the necessary treatment. He is such a lovely cat and after the quarantine period he then can be re-homed hopefully.”

Legally, Trading Standards have the right to put the cat down after one week in quarantine.

But the manager of Trading Standards at Dorset County Council Ivan Hancock said they will do everything they can to avoid that happening.

He said it is a matter of weighing up the cost of quarantine, which is a financial burden on public funds, and the welfare of the cat.

He said: “The quarantine period for this cat will be six months and it can be a problem because the costs can really mount up.

“It is a financial burden and can be difficult suggesting that the public pay for it.”

He added: “There an enormous amount of sympathy there and it is important that we do all we can to ensure that the cat in this case is given a chance of quarantine.”

It is a legal requirement that all visiting animals in the UK have proof of rabies vaccinations and have been through the formal procedure of entering the country. Myra Moyse, from Paws in Weymouth, said they have started the collection with £200 and said she hopes that people will donate more to pay the bill.

To donate money towards the cat’s quarantine costs contact Weymouth Paws on 01305 833756 or go in to Moorcroft Veterinary Surgery at 223 Dorchester Road, Weymouth or call 01305 776686.

  • Do you want to save the cat? Call the newsdesk on 01305 830999.