Hopes that Bernie McCharcoal the cat burnt in Australian bushfire can be reunited with owners

Staff at Palmerston Veterinary Hospital in Australia's Northern Territory are hoping to reunite an unlucky black cat, dubbed Bernie McCharcoal, who had been brought in with burns from a bushfire, with his owners.

Vet Natasha Hanrahan said the cat, a clinic favourite, was friendly and seemed like he had owners but had no microchip. He was found in Palmerston's new suburb of Johnston.



"He was completely burnt. He smelt like a burnt carpet," she said. "His feet still had ash all over them. But he was super-friendly even though he's been in super-pain. He's definitely a pretty laidback cat.

"He's got a bit of smoke inhalation but he is eating and drinking. But it will be weeks until he is 100 per cent. His little pads are going to fall off and he will get new ones. His eyes have just opened, they were swelled. He's lost a bit of his nose as well."