Couple battle to get cat back after giving it up for adoption

An Orkney couple are hoping for their own 'Hudson rescue' as they try to get their own pet cat back from the Cats Protection organisation. Duncan and Rosie Coombes, of Stromness, had second thoughts after giving their cat Hudson up for re-homing.

The local branch of Cats Protection instead offered them a chance to apply themselves to re-adopt Hudson. The result of a home visit is now awaited. The couple said they were suffering stress over the separation and wrangle.

Mrs Coombes is disabled and is currently unable to get about due to illness. Mr Coombes said they decided on re-homing as a precaution when it became clear that his wife might be confined to bed for some time.



The couple said they asked for Hudson back just hours after he had been collected, and were initially led to believe they could have their cat back, but were then told Hudson could not just be handed back. The case was then referred to the organisation's head office in Sussex.

In a statement, Cats Protection said it had acted following a request from the family to have its cat Hudson re-homed. The cat had been signed over into the care of the charity so that a new home could be found. The statement ended with an offer to the Coombes to put themselves forward to re-adopt Hudson.

The organisation has now carried out a home visit to assess the couple's suitability to own a cat. Mr Coombes said he and his wife had been heartened by messages of support received from other members of the community. He said he hoped common sense would prevail and that Hudson would soon be back home.

Free Hudson.