Response to Charlie tale stuns cat owner
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Marie MacIver, who lives in Hilton and relies on disability benefit, lives alone with her five-year-old cat Charlie.
She got in touch with the Courier after it became apparent that Charlie’s injured leg needed an X-ray, which she could not afford.
She had already contacted animal welfare charities without success.
After we printed the story last week, we were inundated with offers of help for little Charlie – and Mrs MacIver admitted she was moved to tears.
“I don’t know what I would have done without everyone who offered to help,” she said.
“I’ve been in tears because people have been so nice. I had a card from a lady wishing me and Charlie all the best. That was such a touching thing for someone to do.
“The card has pride of place on my mantelpiece.
“People are just so kind, even to a poor little animal like Charlie.
“Some people would see him as just a cat but to me he is much more than that.
“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has been in touch wanting to help. I didn’t think anything would come of it.”
Local cat owner Ian Aird came to Mrs MacIver’s aid, donating enough money to cover the cost of the X-ray, leaving her gobsmacked.
“I can’t thank Ian enough,” she said.
“It was so kind of him to do that for me and Charlie.
“I’m so incredibly grateful to Ian. I have no words that can describe how grateful I am for what he has done.”
Mr Aird said: “I am a cat owner myself and when I read the story I felt so much sympathy for Mrs MacIver.
“She is an elderly lady and she doesn’t get out of the house very much so that’s why I thought it was important that I helped her.
“For someone in her position, Charlie is often her only companion.
“This situation seems to have resonated with a lot of people, particularly cat owners around Inverness.”
Charlie has now been diagnosed with patellar dysplasia, where the kneecap is slightly misshapen, and requires no further treatment other than keeping weight off his leg.
“I’m so relieved it’s nothing serious,” Mrs MacIver added.
“But I have taken out an insurance plan, and I would encourage everyone else to do the same in case something like this happens again.”
