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Family braced for final goodbye to their cat dying of a brain tumor — but the hero pet saved his owner’s life one last time before his own death

Since losing him, his owner has noticed she sleeps differently, more safely, almost as if her cat is still watching over her.

BY PAHUL NANRA

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

(L) A woman with her pet cat. (R) A weak black cat sleeping in a cage. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) OR Images, (R) Svetlana Repnitskaya)

For one family in Hertford, love arrived in the quiet form of a small black cat, who became their angel in disguise. Through years of illness, long nights, and worry, this cat offered comfort and safety to his owner, watching over her when she couldn’t watch over herself. But it was in his final moments that he made one last, unforgettable act of love.

A woman and her pet cat (Image Source : Pexels | Helena Lopes) — A woman and her pet cat. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Helena Lopes)

As reported by Staffordshire Live, Carrie Nesbitt-Larking, then 56, suffered from sleep apnoea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, conditions that could cause her to stop breathing if she fell asleep in the wrong position. Her daughter, Mary, then 30, said life changed when a stray black cat wandered into their home through the cat flap in 2012. They named him Ricky Gervais, after the comedian, and soon noticed something remarkable. “As soon as he arrived, he seemed to just know when mum was struggling to breathe in her sleep,” Mary said. “He started letting out a particular meow to alert us…it’s extraordinary, you would think that after his experience, he would be aggressive, but he’s not.” From that day on, Ricky became Carrie’s nightly guardian, waking her whenever her breathing faltered.

A black cat sitting on a ground (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by EVG Kowalievska) — A stray black cat sitting on a ground. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | EVG Kowalievska)

Over the years, the family grew deeply attached to Ricky. Carrie described him as her comfort and protector, always curling up on her chest or following her from room to room. “Ricky loves mum. He just looks at her with love in his eyes,” Mary said. But just before Christmas 2023, Ricky began acting strangely. He started dribbling and staring into space. Vets diagnosed him with epilepsy and a brain tumor. Despite medication, his condition worsened, leaving him disoriented and at times aggressive, something completely unlike his gentle nature. “He was biting our phones, where he seemed to want to relieve pain in his head. He was pressing his head on my mum as hard as he could,” Mary said. Still, even as his body failed him, Ricky didn’t stop caring for Carrie.

A sad mother and daughter hugging one another. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Karolina Kaboompics)

“Even on his last night when he was really confused, he still managed to come in the room to wake mum up,” Mary recalled. “It was like he always knew, even when he wasn’t himself and he was in so much pain, he still knew that mum needed help.” On December 28, the family made the painful decision to have him put to sleep. “He died in my arms,” Mary said softly. “The last thing I said to him as he slipped away was that I would keep mum safe for him.” Ricky’s ashes later rested beside those of the family’s other beloved cats, Karl Pilkington and Homer Simpson, whom they had fondly called his "brother" and "nephew."

Girl Placing a Flower on Her Pet's Grave (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Phillippe Lissac) — Girl Placing a Flower on Her Pet's Grave. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Phillippe Lissac)

“He’s sorely missed,” Carrie expressed. “He was so friendly and so sweet. But I feel like his spirit is around me.” Since losing him, Carrie has noticed she sleeps differently, more safely, almost as if Ricky is still watching over her. “But ever since we lost Ricky, I have been sleeping on my side, which lowers the risk of it affecting my breathing. I think, even now, he’s looking out for me,” she said.