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After the last 2 matriarchs of our home-grown cat dynasty passed-away within a year of each other, both at the grand age of 19, we found ourselves catless. We had planned on having a break, but kept an eye on our local cat rescue via web & social networking.

It wasn't long before the newly arrived Henrys' details were published- everything we didn't want in a cat- a long haired, un neutered tabby Tom. And it was love at first sight- his cheeky personality shone through in his photo, and i just knew he needed us. We dashed to the shelter and met-up with a great hissy, scruffy lump of a cat, and after all the home checks & a trip to the vets we brought him home.

For the next 2 days during a heatwave he hid and refused to come out for anything, driving us to despair, until the offer of a king prawn broke the ice and he decided we might be OK.

We've shared our lives for a year and a half now and he rules the household. He's funny, gentle, easygoing and charms everyone he meets. He won't lap-sit, but likes to be close and thankfully enjoys being brushed & combed (he really is very, very hairy!). His hobbies & interests include sleeping (lots) staring at the hedge in the garden & arguing with the neighbours. For such a large & apparently lazy cat he is agile and surprises us by appearing up trees, or on top of our 6 foot & very rickety garden fence.

We live close to Hampton Court Palace, London, England, so fittingly he has kept his cattery name, but is affectionately known as 'His Royal Hairyness King Henry the 9th' and surveys his domain from his perch on the back of the sofa.

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Story submitted by Linda Pryke from London, .

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!