Blue Cross rescues cat and finds new owner at Blenheim Palace

Two-year-old Daisy was exposed to perilous conditions including a skip, broken glass and rat poison.

Thanks to Blue Cross, the tabby now spends her time strolling through the gardens surrounding the Woodstock palace, while her kittens are also in safer surroundings.

Daisy at Blue Cross in Burford (Image: Blue Cross)

Thomas Martin, from Blue Cross, said: "There was a skip, broken glass, and rat poison on the ground as there was building work going on in the hotel and car park where she was found.

“Daisy was very friendly and we had the impression she might’ve been a pet in the past. She wanted lots of fuss and attention.

"But the kittens had clearly never been near a human before and were very scared and basically feral.

"We didn’t know how we would catch the kittens running around the car park, but we were so worried about them and needed to help."

The kittens, all two months old, and their mother, were taken to the charity's rehoming centre in Burford.

Daisy (Image: Blue Cross)

Mr Martin said: "It was all worth it to reunite mum and kittens. It was so nice to have made a difference because they really couldn’t have stayed in that situation.

"Going from a building site in a car park to Blenheim Palace is absolutely incredible."

Since being found by Blue Cross, the kittens have found loving and safe homes where they are thriving.

Daisy's new home is the centuries-old Blenheim Palace estate, where she enjoys the luxury of vast woodlands and gardens.

The palace is home to the Dukes of Marlborough and has been a UNECO World Heritage Site since 1987.

She lives at the self-catering lodges, and is cared for seven days a week by the on-site team.

Park manager at Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat, Simon Oliver, is Daisy's new owner.

He said: "Daisy has settled in really well and everyone has taken to her. She’ll just lay there for people to tickle her. She loves the attention.

Daisy with her new owner, Simon Oliver (Image: Blue Cross)

“It’s brought everyone together having Daisy here. We’re a good team anyway, but it’s really compounded it.”

Blue Cross provides veterinary care, offers expert behavioural help, and finds homes for pets in need.

Its pet bereavement service supports those who are struggling to cope with the loss of a much-loved pet.

It also offers pet advice to owners, keeps pets and people together with its pet food banks and aims to look after surviving pets when their owners pass away.