Brave badly burnt Cat survives

Robbie Burns: The cat who survived a tower block inferno

• by Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail
• Oct 8 2011

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Robbie Burns the Cat

A CAT who almost died after he ran through flames to escape a burning building has earned the name Robbie Burns by his rescuers.

The lucky ginger feline – called Mr B by his new owners – was found in the wreckage of a Northfield block of flats which was left gutted in the blaze.

He lost the skin off his paws, singed his ears, damaged his eyes and had most of his fur burned off as he made his getaway.

It wasn’t until four days later he was discovered and taken to the RSPCA hospital, in Barnes Hill.

Alan Morrissey, who has now taken in the 18-month-old cat at his Cotteridge home, said: “It was touch and go whether he would survive.

“They were a couple of hours away from putting him to sleep but decided to persevere.”

The 32-year-old, who works as an architect, was looking for a marmalade-coloured cat as a surprise for his wife Michelle’s 40th birthday.

He said: “I rang the RSPCA and said ‘have you got any that fit this colour?’ and they said ‘yes, we’ve got Mr Burns’.

“I put a picture of him in my wife’s card and it was love at first sight I think. She cried when she saw his picture.”

Michelle said: “It was fantastically overwhelming because I’d always wanted a cat.

“It’s extra special to know we’re doing something for an animal who has been through so much that you can give them a really loving home.”

Mr B’s injuries to his ears affect his sense of balance and have left him with curved instead of pointed tips.

Michelle, who works as a teacher, said: “He’s got teddy bear ears which is really bizarre but you don’t really notice until you see other cats. I think it just makes him even cuter.”

Mr B was nursed back to health for three-and-a-half months at the hospital.

A Leaps and Bounds campaign, backed by the Birmingham Mail, has just been launched to raise £3 million for the charity to build a super-hospital, due to open in Frankley, next year.

Alan added: “Mr B’s very resilient and has a strong character. But he’s also received the right attention and a lot of care.”

Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/10/08/robbie-burns-the-cat-who-survived-a-tower-block-inferno-97319-29558915/#ixzz1aNqPDWXR