A FERAL cat rescued from under a city centre hedge with only a crisp packet for a pillow is both blind and deaf.

The ginger Tom had been spotted by a member of the public living in the shrubbery between Debenham’s back door and the Civic Centre in Carlisle.

Concerned – as there are major roads nearby and few residential properties – they contacted the Blue Cross animal rescue charity. After several days, volunteers finally caught the feline, nicknamed Livingstone, and took him into foster care.

H is tale captured the hearts of animal lovers online, eager for an update on the grown-up moggy. It was not until this week that animal charity volunteers felt he was settled enough to get him to the vets to be checked.

A spokeswoman for the Blue Cross said: “We got some pretty unexpected news; he is probably at least 15-years-old and internally he is in great health. He needs some teeth out, but that wasn’t a surprise, and his blood tests were all good.

“However, he is certainly quite deaf, probably not totally but there is hearing loss, and the biggest shock – he is blind.”

She continued: “As if we needed any more convincing of what a tenacious, brave little cat Livingstone is, we find out he has survived the city centre blind, partially deaf and not exactly as a spring chicken to boot.

“What an amazing little cat, and one so deserving of a chance at a forever home to retire to. Now we will focus on finding that place.”

He is being cared for by one of the charity’s Cumbrian foster carers where volunteers have created a den with a small dog crate covered in a blanket.

The spokeswoman added: “He has surprised us no end by also deciding he loves the addition of a rat teddy sprayed with Feliway. He has taken Ratty to the back of the den where he uses him as a bit of a pillow – better than a crisp packet. Who knew an old, battered, wary feral cat would love having a teddy?”

For updates on Livingstone and the charity, search for ‘Blue Cross Rehoming Network – Cumbria’ on Facebook.