PIXIE, the heroic Melksham cat who saved the life of a toddler who was choking on food as she slept, has been crowned the UK’s most heroic cat at the Cat Protection’s National Cat Awards.
The courageous feline was nominated for the award by owner Sophie Hellyer after the frightening incident occurred last year in November – a story covered in Melksham News. After being woken by a distressed Pixie in the middle of the night, Sophie and her partner Mike Sawyer made a terrifying discovery. Sophie explained, “I got up and followed Pixie and realised that she was going around in circles outside April’s room. So I opened the door and I found April keeled over and she couldn’t breathe.
“I screamed for Mike to help me and got April out of the cot. Mike came in and hit her on the back and after several attempts she brought up some cut up grapes that she had for lunch that day.”
Pixie beat off competition from two other heroic cats at the awards ceremony hosted at The Savoy Hotel in London. Accepting the award on Pixie’s behalf, Sophie said, “We’re so excited to have won this. Pixie deserves this so much as, if it hadn’t been for her warnings, we don’t think April would be here today.
“She’s a much-loved cat anyway and April adores her. But what she did that night was incredible and we really do believe she is something very special.”
Sky News presenter and category judge Stephen Dixon said, “It was very hard to judge this category as all three cats deserved to win, but Pixie has demonstrated her love for her family in a way that we can all relate to. Clearly distressed at April choking, she alerted the family with her own distressed behaviour. It’s the perfect demonstration of how cats integrate into our lives and understand when things are going wrong.”
Cats Protection’s awards organiser Kate Bunting said, “Cats can frequently be at the heart of family life and it’s wonderful that Pixie is such a well-loved pet. What she did on that night is amazing and just goes to show how intuitive cats can be.”
The family were given a trophy that now has pride of place on their fireplace, a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine and a voucher for cat goodies to treat Pixie.
For Pixie, she can look forward to a three-month supply of cat food and plenty of love and affection. “We’ll give her treats like tins of tuna and spoil her lots. We’ll never forget what she did,” said Sophie.
Free funding and advice sessions for community groups at Melksham Library
Book now for free one hour funding and advice sessions on Monday 18th September at the Melksham Library.
The 1-1 sessions will be held with an experienced funding advisor and can be used to discuss organisation’s funding needs or how to set up or run a voluntary or community group.
For further information please contact Jane Butler or on 01380 729284 or email jane.butler@wiltshire cf.org.uk.
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