On Sept. 19, a handsome tuxedo cat named Marley won the Cat of the Year award. The feline resides in a safe house and provides comfort to the trafficked, enslaved, and exploited women who seek shelter there. The kitty won the award for his “power of love,” assisting several women on their tumultuous road to recovery.
Celebrity judges crown rescue feline Marley as ‘Cat of the Year’
Safe house kitty Marley has won the Cat of the Year award for 2024, organized by the United Kingdom-based welfare charity Cats Protection. The feline took home the title after competing against thousands of others, being crowned the winner at a national ceremony. The head of the safe house, Karen Anstiss, told The Guardian, “He’s a wonderful example of the power of love.”
She also noted that Marley’s touch of love was the first act of kindness for many of the women at the safe house. Moreover, his “gift of empathy” was praised by everyone at the competition, as he guided several women through their road to recovery. Anstiss recalled a guest who was traumatized to the point that she couldn’t speak to any of the residents. However, she was able to find it in her to trust Marley, which helped immensely with her healing journey.
Marley’s story before he was rescued might have been similar to the ones of the safe house’s residents. Anstiss stated, “Before he went into rescue, I think he had a hard time, so he recognises our guests’ trauma because he has suffered too.”
To get close to the women, the winner of the Cat of the Year award first sits close to them. He lets the women approach him first and then gently places his paw on their lap. This slow yet effective technique helps the women realize that they are not alone.
The head of the safe house also joked that Marley was a staff supervisor. He has a “patch of daisies” that he doesn’t let anybody touch. He also joins everyone for dinner and loves frequenting the art therapy sessions.
